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ETHAN   ALLEN. 


THE  BURGOYNE  CAMPAIGN. 


ItW  fltipj?  0  HHW> 


ORISKANY  AND  BENNINGTON. 


HAUVER  ISLAND  AND  ITS  FORTIFICATIONS, 


SECOND   EDITION. 

BY  H.  C.  MAINE,  A.  M., 
(Of  the  Troy  Whig.) 


Illustrated  with  Pen  Drawings  by  Buckland. 


TROY,    N  .    Y  .  : 

TROT    WHIG    PUBLISHING    CO.,    PRINTERS, 

1877. 


>      •  ■> 


PREFACE 


TO    THE    SEOOISTD    EDITION". 


A  desire  to  search  out  and  record  in  some  permanent  form  the  history 
of  the  occupation  by  an  American  army  in  1777,  of  Hauver  and  Yan 
Schaick's  islands,  at  the  sprouts  of  the  Mohawk,  gave  rise  to  these  pages. 
The  remains  of  fortifications  on  Hauver  island,  are  undoubtedly  the  best 
preserved  of  any  relics  of  the  revolutionary  struggle.  A  study  of  the  his- 
tory of  these  interesting  remains  opened  to  the  whole  history  of  Bur- 
goyne's  campaign  and  preceding  events  in  the  Cbamplain,  St.  Lawrence 
and  Hudson  valleys.  In  connection  with  the  historical  record,  the  writer 
sought  to  preserve  by  art,  accurate  representations  of  historic  localities 
as  they  appear  to-day.  On  account  of  the  great  cost  of  illustration,  the 
difficulties  were  considerable.  Happily  there  fell  into  the  writer's  hands 
the  circular  of  a  Boston  house,  the  Photo-Electrotype  Company,  announc- 
ing a  new  discovery  by  which  the  art  of  illustration  was  rendered  com- 
paratively inexpensive.  The  method  was  tested  and  the  illustrations  of 
these  pages  are  the  result.  They  have  defects,  nevertheless  they  are  faith- 
ful and  accurate,  having  been  reproduced  with  the  greatest  fidelity  from 
original  sketches  by  H.  Buckland.  We  trust  they  may  add  to  the  knowl- 
edge of  the  localities  now  so  interesting,  and  may  guide  our  readers  to  a 
more  complete  understanding  of  the  operations  of  the  two  armies  engaged 
in  the  valley  of  the  upper  Hudson.  For  valuable  aid  and  encouragement 
in  the  preparation  of  these  brief  pages,  we  are  greatly  indebted  to  Hon. 
James  Forsyth,  B.  H.  Hall,  N.  B.  Sylvester.  Dr.  C.  C.  Schuyler,  grand- 
nephew  of  Gen.  Philip  Schuyler,  and  H.  Buckland,  the  artist. 

Troy,  N.  Y.,  Oct.  17,  1877.  h.  c.  m. 


BURGOYNE'S  FIRST  EXPEDITION  IN  1776. 


0  a  good  understanding  of  the  Burgoyne 
campaign  of  1777,  a  brief  review  of  preced- 
ing operations  in  the  north  is  necessary. 
After  the  first  collision  at  Lexington,  April 
19,  1775,  it  was  the  intention  of  the  patriots 
to  seize  and  hold  the  gateway  to  Canada, 
and,  if  possible,  induce  that  province  to 
join  in  the  struggle  for  liberty. 
The  provincial  assembly  of  Connecticut, 
through  a  few  of  its  members,  immediately  agreed  upon  a  plan 
to  seize  Ticonderoga  and  the  munitions  of  war  stored  there. 
One  thousand  dollars  was  appropriated  to  cover  the  expense. 
Edward  Mott  and  Noah  Phelps  were  entrusted  with  the 
raising  of  troops  and  examination  of  the  fortress.  If  ex- 
pedient, they  were  to'  surprise  and  capture  the  garrison. 
They  collected  15  men  in  Connecticut,  and  at  Pittsfield, 
Mass.,  were  joined  by  Col.  Easton  and  John  Brown.  Col. 
Easton  enlisted  volunteers  from  his  regiment  of  militia, 
about  forty  being  engaged  by  the  time  he  reached  Benning- 
ton. There,  Ethan  Allen,  who  had  energy  enough  for 
a  brave  and  determined  man,  and  energy  to  spare,  joined  the 
expedition  with  his  Green  Mountain  Boys.    The  whole  party, 

Ml£5£G3 


6 


two  hundred  and  seventy  strong,  reached  Castleton,  fourteen 
miles  from  Skenesborough  (now  Whitehall)  on  the  evening 
of  the  7th  of  May.  There  Allen  was  chosen  commander, 
with  Col.  Easton  second,  and  Seth  Warner  third.  The  ex- 
pedition was  divided  into  three  detachments,  Allen  leading 
the  one  which  was  to  cross  the  lake,  from  a  point  directly 
opposite  the  fortress.  One  party  was  to  go  by  way  of 
Skenesborough,  and  capture  young  Major  Skene  and  confine 
his  people,  afterwards  to  seize  boats  and  proceed  to  Ticon- 
deroga.  The  third  party  was  dispatched  by  way  of  Panton 
beyond  Crown  Point.  Before  the  troops  moved  from  Cas- 
tleton,  however,  Benedict  Arnold,  who  had  marched  to 
Cambridge  with  his  company  from  New  Haven,  immediately 

after  the  battle  of  Lex- 
ington, appeared  with 
a  commission  from  the 
Massachusetts  commit- 
tee of  safety,  giving  him 
command  of  an  expedi- 
tion, which  he  was  to 
raise  to  reduce  Ticon- 
deroga.  As  he  had  not 
raised  such  an  expedi- 
tion, he  was  not  allowed 
to  supersede  Ethan  Al- 
len. Arnold  then  went 
with  Allen  as  a  volun- 
teer. During  the  night 
of  the  9th,  Allen 
with  his  little  force  reached  the  lake.  The  officers  and 
eighty-three  men  had  crossed,  under  the  guidance  of  a 
farmer  boy  named  Beman,  when  day  began  to  dawn. 
Without  waiting  for  the  other  detachments,  Allen  deter- 
mined to  enter  the  fort.  With  Arnold  at  his  side,  Allen 
led  his  men  to  the  covered  entrance.  The  sentinel  snapped 
his  piece  at  them  and  fled,  the  patriots  following  him  into 
the  works.  Another  sentry  resisted,  but  he  was  made  a 
prisoner. 


RUINS    OF   TICONDEROGA    RY    MOONLIGHT. 


7 

What  occurred  thereafter  is  a  matter  of  dispute.  The 
following  account  is  undoubtedly  the  correct  one.  It  is  from 
Matthew  Dunning,  who  went  from  Will iamstown,  Massa- 
chusetts, and  who  was  third  behind  Allen  as  he  entered  the 
fort.     These  are  his  words  : 

"  The  line  formed  at  the  front  of  the  barracks.  The  com- 
mandant slept  at  the  head  of  the  stairs  in  the  second  story. 
The  prisoner  sentinel  pointed  out  the  room.  I  was  directly  in 
front  of  the  stairs,  the  door  being  open.  Allen*  rapped  upon 
the  officer's  door  with  his  sword  violently.  The  officer 
sprang  from  his  bed   in   his  night  clothes,  and  opening  the 


*Ethan  Allen  was  born  at  Litchfield,  Connecticut,  Jan.  10, 1737,  and  died  in  Bur- 
lington, Vt.,  Feb.  12, 17S9.  He  moved  to  the  westward  of  the  Green  Mountains  in 
1766,  and  was  one  of  the  most  active  partisans  in  fie  struggle  of  the  New  Hamp- 
shire Giants  against  the  state  of  New  York.  The  headquarters  of  these  partisans 
was  at  the  old  Catamount  tavern  in  Bennington.  He  was  brave,  generous,  rash 
and  eccentric.  When  the  revolution  began  he  turned  all  his  powerlul  energies  to 
assist  the  colonies.  His  daring  capture  of  TiconoLeroga  and  subsequent  surrender 
at  Montreal  are  recorded  in  another  place.  He  was  exchanged  May  ({th,  177S,  and 
returned  to  Vermont.  Before  the  end  of  the  war  he  removed  to  Bennington, 
thonce  to  Arlington,  and  finally  to  the  vicinity  of  Onion  river,  where  he  died.  The 
picture  of  Allen  presented  on  the  title  page  is  from  the  statue  by  Sthepenson,  sur- 
mounting the  monument  at  Burlington.  This  statue  was  unveiled  July  4th,  1873. 
The  monument  upon  which  the  statue  stands  is  in  the  old  cemetery  on  the  ridge 
east  of  Burlington,  overlooking  a  wide  scene— the  Adirondacks  on  the  west,  and 
Allen's  loved  Green  Mountains  on  the  east.  The  shaft  is  of  granite  forty-two  feet 
high,  and  of  the  Doric  order.  It  stands  upon  a  square  pedestal  which  is  inscribed 
upon  each  of  its  four  faces.  The  western  face  has:  •*  Vermont  to  Ethan  Allen, 
born  in  Litchfield,  Conn.,  10th  Jan..  A.  D.  1737,0.  S.  died  in  Burlington,  Vt.,  12th 
Feb.  A.  D.  1769,  and  buried  near  the  site  of  this  monument."  The  southern  face 
bears  the  following  inscription  :  "The  leader  of  the  Green  Mountain  boys  in  the 
surrender  and  capture  of  Ticonderoga,  which  he  demanded  "  In  the  name  of  the 
Great  Jehovah  and  the  Continental  Congress.'"  East  face  :  "  Taken  prisoner  in 
a  daring  attack  on  Montreal  and  transported  to  England,  he  disarmed  the  purpose 
of  his  enemy  by  the  respect  which  he  inspired  for  the  rebellion  and  the  Rebel." 
North  face:  "  Wielding  the  pen  as  well  as  the  sword,  he  was  the  sagacious  and 
intrepid  defender  of  the  New  Hampshire  Grants,  and  master  spirit  in  the  arduous 
struggle  which  resulted  in  the  sovereignty  of  the  state."  When  the  state  of 
Vermont  moved  in  1858  to  erect  this  monument,  it  was  impossible  to  find  the  exact 
place  of  Allen's  interment.  His  remains  were  known  to  repose  within  a  certain 
enclosure,  but  an  examination  of  the  spot  revealed  nothing.  So,  without  the 
people's  knowledge,  in  the  course  of  those  seventy  years  their  hero  had  become 
traditional.  The  statue  is  heroic.  The  face  is  ideal.  The  form  and  features  of  the 
hero  hid  passed  into  tradition,  and  it  was  believed  at  the  time  the  model  was  exe- 
cuted that  not  a  lineament  of  his  features  or  form  had  been  preserved,  although  it 
is  stated  somewhat  doubtfully  that  Trumbull  made  a  painting  of  him  which  ie  still 
in  existence.  In  view  of  the  uncertainty,  i he  people  of  Vermont  indulge  their 
magination  to  the  fullest  extent,  picturing  their  hero  a  man  nearly  seven  feet  high, 
and  endowing  him  with  all  the  manly  qualities  which  distinguish  the  sons  of  that 
state. 


8 

door  asked,  "  What  do  you  want  ?"  Allen  replied,  "  This 
fort."  The  commander  asked,  "In  whose  name  ?"  "In  my 
own  name,  and  in  the  name  of  the  Continental  Congress, 
and  by  God  I  will  have  it."  The  officer  said,  "  very  well," 
and  started  to  go  down  stairs.  Allen  said,  "  You  are  not 
going  down  before  my  men  naked,  are  you  ?  Go  back  and 
put  on  your  clothes."  The  officer  then  dressed  and  came 
down. 

Mr.  Dunning  survived  until  nearly  1830  and  was  greatly 
respected. 

According  to  Lossing,  the  commandant  Delaplace,  ap- 
peared in  his  night  dress,  "with  the  frightened  face  of  his 
pretty  wife  peering  over  his  shoulder."  It  is  also  stated  that 
he  and  Allen  had  been  old  friends,  and  that  when  Allen 
was  roughly  asked  his  errand,  he  replied  pointing  to  his 
men,  "  I  order  you  instantly  to  surrender."  "  By  what 
authority  do  you  demand  it,"  said  Delaplace.  "In  the 
name  of  the  great  Jehovah  and  the  Continental  Congress !" 
thundered  Allen.  The  surrender  then  followed.  Seth 
Warner  arrived  just  as  the  surrender  was  completed. 

Ticonderoga  was  a  valuable  fortress.  It  was  fortified  by 
the  French  in  1755  and  had  been  greatly  strengthened  by 
the  English  after  its  capture  by  Lord  Amherst  in  1759,  and 
contained  valuable  stores  and  over  a  hundred  and  fifty 
cannon  and  mortars.  On  the  12th  Crown  Point  surren- 
dered to  Seth  Warner.  This  too  was  a  strong  fortress.  A 
fort  had  been  built  near  its  site  by  the  French  in  1731, 
which  they  called  Fort  St.  Frederick.  This  was  deserted 
when  Amherst  captured  Ticonderoga,  and  the  English 
immediately  began  the  erection  of  the  fort  on  Crown  Point. 
This  cost,  according  to  Lossing,  $10,000,000,  the  fort  being 
part  of  Pitt's  plan  to  utterly  crush  French  power  in  Amer- 
ica. After  its  capture  by  Allen  and  Warner,  it  was  not 
regarded  of  very  great  importance.  Col.  Allen  was  in- 
stalled as  commander  of  the  two  forts  after  a  sharp  contro- 
versy with  Arnold,  who  claimed  authority.  The  prisoners, 
forty-eight  in  number,  were  sent  to  Hartford. 

Arnold  and  Allen  pushed  on  to  St.  John's,  and  Arnold 
captured  the   fort  and  a  British  vessel  lying  there.    The 


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■&* 


THE  BURGOYNE  CAMPAIGN. 


BEMIS  HEIGHTS, 


SEPT'R  19TH   AND  OCTR  7TH,   1777. 


HAUVER  ISLAND  AND  ITS  FORTIFICATIONS. 


BY  H.  C.  MAINE,  A.  M., 

(Of  the  Troy  Whig.) 


Illustrated  with  Pen  Drawings  by  Buckland. 


TROY,    N.    Y.  : 

TROY    WHIG    PUBLISHING    CO.,    PRINTERS. 

1877. 


PREFACE. 


A  desire  to  search  out  and  record  in  some  permanent  form  the  history 
of  the  occupation  by  an  American  army  in  1777,  of  Hauver  and  Van 
Schaick's  islands,  at  the  sprouts  of  the  Mohawk,  gave  rise  to  these  pages. 
The  remains  of  fortifications  on  Hauver  island,  are  undoubtedly  the  best 
preserved  of  any  relics  of  the  revolutionary  struggle.  A  study  of  the  his- 
tory of  these  interesting  remains  opened  to  the  whole  history  of  Bur- 
goyne's  campaign  and  preceding  events  in  the  Cbamplain,  St.  Lawrence 
and  Hudson  valleys.  In  connection  with  the  historical  record,  the  writer 
sought  to  preserve  by  art,  accurate  representations  of  historic  localities 
as  they  appear  to-day.  On  account  of  the  great  cost  of  illustration,  the 
difficulties  were  considerable.  Happily  there  fell  into  the  writer's  hands, 
the  circular  of  a  Boston  house,  the  Photo-Electrotype  Company,  announc- 
ing a  new  discovery  by  which  the  art  of  illustration  was  rendered  com- 
paratively inexpensive.  The  method  was  tested  and  the  illustrations  of 
these  pages  are  the  result.  They  have  defects,  nevertheless  they  are  faith- 
ful and  accurate,  having  been  reproduced  with  the  greatest  fidelity  from 
original  sketches  by  H.  Buckland.  We  trust  they  may  add  to  the  knowl- 
edge of  the  localities  now  so  interesting,  and  may  guide  our  readers  to  a 
more  complete  understanding  of  the  operations  of  the  two  armies  engaged 
in  the  valley  of  the  upper  Hudson.  For  valuable  aid  and  encouragement 
in  the  preparation  of  these  brief  pages,  we  are  greatly  indebted  to  Hon. 
James  Forsyth,  B.  H.  Hall,  Dr.  C.  C.  Schuyler,  grand-nephew  of  Gen. 
Philip  Schuyler,  and  H.  Buckland,  the  artist.  The  principal  object  of 
these  pages  is  to  briefly  describe  the  two  great  battles  on  the  field  of 
Bemis  Heights,  which  finally  decided  the  fate  of  Burgoyne's  army  in  1777. 

Troy,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  19,  1877,  h.  c.  m. 


BURGOYNE'S  FIRST  EXPEDITION  IN  1776. 


0  a  good  understanding  of  the  two  great  events  on 
Bemis  Heights,  September  19  and  October  7,  1777, 
a  brief  review  of  preceding  operations  in  the  north 
is  necessary.  After  the  first  collision  at  Lexington, 
April  19,  1775,  it  was  the  intention  of  the  patriots 
to  sieze  and  hold  the  gateway  to  Canada,  and  if 
possible  induce  that  province  to  join  in  the  struggle 
for  liberty.  By  the  aid  of  the  provincial  assembly  of  Con- 
necticut, Ethan  Allen  and  Seth  Warner,  of  the  New  Hamp- 
shire grants,  (now  Vermont),  Col.  Easton  of  Pittsfield, 
Mass.,  accompanied  by  Benedict  Arnold,  of  New  Haven, 
Conn.,  as  a  volunteer,  seized  Ticonderoga  on  the  10th  of 
May,  1775  and  the  fortress  of  Crown  Point  on  the  12th. 
Both  were  strong.  Crown  Point  was  fortified  by  the 
French  in  1731,  and  afterwards  strengthened  by  the  English. 
Ticonderoga  was  fortified  by  the  French  in  1755.  The 
continental  congress  elected  George  Washington  commander- 
in-chief  on  the  15th  of  June,  1775,  and  appointed  Ar- 
temus  Ward,  Charles  Lee,  Philip  Schuyler,  and  Israel 
Putnam  major  generals,  Horatio  Gates  adjutant  general, 
and  Seth  Pomeroy,  Richard  Montgomery,  David  Wooster, 
William  Heath,  Joseph  Spencer,  John  Thomas,  John  Sulli- 
van and  Nathaniel  Greene  brigadier  generals. 

After  precious  time  had  been  wasted  Gen.  Schuyler  and 
Gen.  Montgomery  set  out  for  the  conquest  of  Canada.  St 
John's  was  besieged   near  the   close   of   August,  1775,  by 


4 

Montgomery,  General  Schuyler*  retiring  to  Ticonderoga  on 
account  of  severe  illness.  On  the  25th  of  September  Col. 
Ethan  Allen  was  captured  in  an  ill-starred  expedition  from 
St.  John's  against  Montreal,  and  was  sent  to  England  in 
irons.  St.  John's  fell  on  the  3d  of  November  and  Mont- 
gomery soon  after  entered  Montreal  in  triumph.  He 
pushed  on  to  Quebec,  arriving  December  5th,  having  joined 
Col.  Arnold  who  had  arrived  November  9th,  and  for  a  time 
had  invested  the  city  with  about  a  thousand  men,  having 
made  a  terrible  march  of  thirty-two  days  from  Cambridge 
through  the  wilderness  of  the  Kennebec  and  Chaudiere 
rivers.  In  Arnold's  expedition,  Capt.  Daniel  Morgan  of 
Virginia,  who  was  afterwards  so  conspicuous  at  Bemis 
Heights,  commanded  a  body  of  riflemen.  Quebec  was  im- 
mediately besieged  and  an  assault  was  made  December  31st, 
when    Arnold   was  wounded  and  Montgomery  killed.. 

For  his  gallant  service  Arnold  was  made  a  brigadier 
general.  Quebec  was  defended  by  Sir  Guy  Carleton,  gov- 
ernor of  the  province,  and  a  brave,  humane  and  skillful 
general.  Arnold  became  chief  in  command  of  the  defeated 
army  and  hopelessly  continued  the  siege  of  Quebec,  his 
troops  enduring  a  rigorous  winter.  He  was  relieved  April 
1st,  1776,  by  Gen.  Wooster,  Arnold  assuming  command  at 


*  General  Philip  Schuyler  was  born  at  Albany  on  the  22d  of  November,  1733. 
His  grandfather,  Peter  Schuyler,  was  mayor  of  Albany  and  commander  of  the 
northern  militia  in  1690.  His  father,  John  Schuyler,  married  Cornelia  Van  Cort- 
land, and  Philip  was  their  eldest  son.  He  inherited  the  vast  estate  of  his  father, 
by  the  custom  of  primogeniture,  but  generously  shared  his  wealth  witn  his 
brothers  and  sisters.  "XouDg  Schuyler  commanded  a  company  under  Sir  William 
Johnson  at  Lake  George  in  1755.  He  became  a  favorite  of  Lord  Howe,  and  when 
that  officer  fell  before  Ticonderoga  in  1758,  Col.  S  hnyler  conveyed  his  remains  to 
Albany.  After  the  peace  of  1703  he  was  active  in  the  civil  government  of  New 
York.  In  the  Colonial  Assembly  of  New  York,  he  was  a  powerful  opponent  of  the 
aggressions  of  Great  Britain.  He  was  elected  to  the  Continental  Congress 
which  assembled  in  May  1775,  and  was  appointed  a  Major  General  on  June  15th 
following.  He  was  placed  in  command  of  the  army  in  Northern  New  York  and 
an  expedition  to  Canada.  After  most  eminent  service  in  which  he  performed 
wonders  in  spite  of  the  factious  opposition  of  John  Adams  and  a  powerful  New 
England  influence,  he  was  superseded  in  the  command  of  the  northern  army  on  the 
19th  of  August,  1777.  After  the  constitution  was  formed  he  was  elected  a  senator 
with  Rufus  King,  and  subsequently  in  place  of  Aaron  Burr  in  1797.  He  died  in 
Albany,  November  18th,  1804,  aged  71  years.  His  daughter  Elizabeth  was  the 
wife  of  Alexander  Hamilton. 


5 

Montreal.  Wooster  was  in  turn  relieved  by  Gen.  Thomas, 
who  arrived  at  Quebec  May  1.  He  made  an  unsuccessful 
attempt  to  take  the  city  on  May  3d,  and  on  May  6th  was 
driven  from  Quebec  by  the  arrival  of  British  ships  and  re- 
inforcements from  England  under  Geus.  Burgoyne  and 
Riedesel.  Gen.  Thomas  retreated  to  the  mouth  of  the  Sorel, 
the  outlet  of  Lake  Champlain.  He  was  prostrated  by  small- 
pox, and  carried  to  Chambly,  where  he  died  June  2d,  1776. 
Gen.  John  Sullivan  then  took  command  of  the  little  army, 
June  5  and,  threw  up  fortifications  at  the  mouth  of  the  Sorel. 
Part  of  Sullivan's  force  was  defeated  at  Three  Rivers,  by 
the  British  advance  under  General  Frazer.  The  Americans 
were  commanded  by  Thompson  and  Wayne.  On  the  14th 
of  June,  Sullivan  on  the  approach  of  the  British  fleet  re- 
treated to  Chambly,  and  being  joined  by  Arnold,  from 
Montreal,  retreated  thence  to  St.  John's,  soon  after  to  Isle 
Aux  Noix,  and  early  in  June,  1776,  to  Crown  Point.  In 
order  to  fully  understand  this  disastrous  ending  of  the 
American  invasion  of  Canada,  let  us  briefly  glance  at  the 
British  plans  and  operations  in  that  province. 

During  the  winter  of  1775  and  1776  the  British  ministry 
had  prepared  to  drive  the  Americans  from  Canada  and  re- 
take Crown  Point  and  Ticonderoga.  For  this  purpose  and 
to  reinforce  the  British  army  in  America,  the  British  gov- 
ernment, in  the  face  of  strenuous  opposition  in  Parliament 
by  Chatham,  Burke,  the  Duke  of  Richmond  and  others, 
concluded  treaties  with  the  Prince  of  Hesse  Darmstadt 
(treaty  dated  January  5th,  1776,)  the  duke  of  Brunswick, 
(treaty  dated  January  9,  1776,)  and  the  landgrave  of  Hesse 
Cassel,  (treaty  dated  January  15,  1776,)  for  the  hire  of 
17,300  men  for  service  in  America.  These  troops  were 
mostly  forced  from  their  homes  and  impressed  into  service, 
being  first  shut  up  in  fortresses  and  subjected  to  the  se- 
verest discipline.  They  were  loaded  down  with  the  heaviest 
arms  and  accoutrements.  One  of  their  drums  captured  at 
Bennington,  now  in  the  hall  of  the  Massachusetts  senate, 
weighs  twenty  pounds.  Their  guns  were  very  heavy  and 
their  swords  of  enormous  size  and  weight.  Stedman  the 
historian,  and  a  staff  officer  of  Cornwallis,  said  that  the  hats 


6 

and  swords  of  the  German  soldiers  weighed  very  nearly  as 
much  as  the  whole  equipment  of  one  of  the  English,  and 
that  the  worst  British  regiment  could  easily  march  two 
miles  to  their  one.  The  canteens  of  the  Germans  held  a 
gallon,  and  when  full  weighed  ten  or  twelve  pounds.  Their 
caps  had  a  heavy  brass  front  with  the  legend,  nunquam 
retrorsum  (never  backward).  Many  of  these  men  were 
seized  while  at  church,  and  most  of  them  were  excellent 
citizens.  Many  deserted  in  Europe,  and  after  reaching 
America.  Some  of  our  best  citizens  were  descended  from 
these  Germans,  who  were  bought  to  be  shot  in  America. 
They  were  the  best  disciplined  men  in  the  British  army. 
It  is  related  by  Major  General  Heath,  of  the  American 
army,  in  his  memoirs,  that  at  the  battle  of  Brandywine, 
the  Hessian  grenadiers,  after  crossing  Chad's  ford,  "  halted 
at  the  foot  of  the  hill,  below  the  Americans,  under  a  warm 
fire,  and  with  great  deliberation  changed  their  hats  (undress) 
for  their  heavy  brass  caps,  and  then  ascended  the  hill,  from 
which  the  Americans  were  obliged  to  retire."  For  these 
men  the  German  princes  were  paid  a  subsidy,  and  seven 
pounds  four  shillings  and  four  pence  sterling  for  each  soldier, 
and  as  much  more  for  every  one  killed. 

The  first  division  of  these  troops,  Brunswickers,  destined 
for  Canada,  embarked  at  Stade,  March  17, 1776.  They  were 
commanded  by  Major  General  Friedrich  Adolph  Eiedesel, 
an  honorable  gentlemen  and  brave  and  skillful  officer. 
Under  him  were  Lieutenant  Colonel  Friedrich  Baum,  (kil- 
led at  Bennington,  August  16, 1777),  Colonel  Johann  Fried- 
rich Breyman,  (killed  at  Bemis  Heights,  October  7,  1777), 
Colonel  Johann  Friedrich  Specht,  Lieutenant  Colonel 
Praetorius,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Gustav  von  Ehrenkrock, 
Colonel  Wilhelm  von  Speth,  and  other  brave  officers.  The 
Brunswickers  numbered  about  4,000.  The  command  sailed 
under  convoy  from  Spithead,  April  4,  1776.  Gen.  John 
Burgoyne,  who  had  witnessed  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill,  and 
subsequently  returned  to  England,  followed  the  next  day 
with  Gen.  William  Phillips.  RiedesePs  troops  arrived  at 
Quebec  about  the  first  of  May,  Gens.  Burgoyne  and  Phillips 
arriving  about  the  same  time.    This  army  joined  Carle  ton, 


who  was  commander-in-chief  and  after  defeating  the  Amer- 
icans at  Three  Rivers  drove  them  out  of  Canada.  Gen. 
Carleton  proceeded  with  part  of  his  forces  to  Chambly  and 
St.  John's.  At  the  latter  place  he  built  a  fleet,  consuming 
the  entire  summer. 


WASHINGTON,  FKOM  STUART  S  PAINTING. 

In  response  to  repeated  requests  by  Gen.  Schuyler  to  aid 
the  army  in  Canada,  congress  on  the  17th  of  May  voted  to 
send  an  experienced  general  to  Canada.  Without  consult- 
ing Washington,  Congress  directed  him  to  send  Gen.  Hora- 
tio Gates*  to  command  in  Canada.  He  was  given  ab- 
solute power  of  appointment  and  removal  of  all  officers  of 
the  army  operating  in  Canada  by  simply  notifying  the 
changes  to  Congress  for  their  approval.  John  Adams  who 
was  chairman  of  the  board  of  war  believed  in  Gates  above 


*  Gen.  Horatio  Gates  was  a  trained  British  soldier,  the  son  of  an  English  clergy- 
man. He  was  born  in  Essex,  England,  in  1728.  He  entered  the  army  at  an  early 
age  and  was  sent  to  America  to  fight  against  the  French  and  Indians.  He  was 
wounded  in  the  unfortunate  expedition  under  Braddock.  After  peace  with  Frame 
he  settled  in  Virginia.  At  the  commencement  of  the  revolution  he  tendered  his 
services  to  Congress  and  was  chosen  Adjutant  General.  He  assisted  Washington 
in  the  discipline  of  the  t  rces  at  Cambridge  in  1175.  He  was  a  good  tactician,  but 
that  is  about  all  that  can  be  said  in  his  favor.  He  profited  by  the  labor  of  others. 
With  Adams'  friendship  and  his  own  presumption  he  achieved  a  considerable 
reputation  at  one  time,  but  lost  it  all  by  plotting  against  Washington,  and  by 
utter  failure  in  the  south. 


8 

all  men.  Other  New  England  delegates  who  then  formed  a 
strong  faction  in  Congress  also  believed  that  Gates  was  the 
man  who  could  best  conduct  military  operations.  Gates 
had  recently  been  promoted  to  a  major  general,  and  it  is 
known  that  John  Adams  already  had  him  in  training  to 
succeed  Gen.  Schuyler  in  command  of  the  northern  depart- 
ment. The  infatuation  of  Adams  and  his  compeers  is 
unaccountable.  The  instructions  given  to  Gates  made 
him  in  many  respects  the  superior  of  both  Washington 
and  Schuyler,  thanks  to  the  egotism  and  strenuous  partisan- 
ship of  Adams.  Gen.  Gates  arrived  in  Albany  to  find  his  occu- 
pation gone,  the  broken  American  army  having  retired  from 
Canada  to  Crown  Point.  Notwithstanding  this,  Gates  was 
determined  to  take  absolute  control  of  the  army  that  had  been 
in  Canada,  although  it  had  left  that  province.  Gen.  Schuyler 
made  an  issue  with  him  and  was  sustained.  Gates  finally  pro- 
ceeded to  the  north,  subject  to  the  orders  of  Gen.  Schuyler. 
Upon  the  appointment  of  Gates,  Gen.  Sullivan  left  the  north- 
ern department  and  joined  Gen.  Washington.  A  council  of 
officers  under  Gates  decided  to  abandon  Crown  Point  and 
retire  to  Ticonderoga  with  the  consent  of  Gen.  Schuyler. 
Washington  regretted  this  movement. 

In  the  meantime  a  portion  of  the  British  and  German 
troops,  destined  for  America,  independent  of  those  already 
arrived  in  Canada  under  Gen.  Burgoyne,  had  arrived  and 
landed  at  Staten  Island.  By  the  middle  of  July,  30,000 
troops  were  encamped  on  Staten  Island  under  command  of 
Gen.  Howe  and  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  ready  to  fall  upon 
Washington's  army  at  Brooklyn. 

Under  the  direction  of  Gates  and  Arnold,  a  small  fleet 
was  constructed  at  Ticonderoga  during  the  summer  of 
.1776  and  placed  under  command  of  Arnold,  who,  on  the 
11th  of  October,  fought  a  naval  battle  with  Gen.  Carleton's 
fleet,  in  the  channel  between  Valcour  island  and  the  western 
shore  of  Lake  Camplain.  Arnold,  after  a  desperate 
battle,  was  defeated  with  the  loss  of  seven  of  his  vessels,  the 
rest  escaping  to  Ticonderoga.  Gen.  Carleton  occupied 
Crown  Point  on  the  14th  of  October.    It  was  too  late,  how- 


9 

ever,  in  the  opinion  of  Carleton,  to  attempt  a  junction  with 
Howe,  although  Burgoyne  and  Riedesel  desired  to  push  on. 
Hearing  nothing  from  Howe,  the  position  of  the  Americans 
was  reconnoitered,  and  on  the  3d  of  November  Carleton  re- 
tired from  Crown  Point  to  winter  quarters  in  Canada.  His 
cautiousness  cost  him  his  command,  for  Burgoyne  was 
selected  to  command  an  expedition  the  coming  season,  that 
was  to  penetrate  the  country  by  the  valley  of  the  Hudson 
and  cut  the  rebellious  colonies  in  two.  He  sailed  for  Eng- 
land on  the  2Gth  of  October  to  confer  with  the  ministry  and 
complete  his  plans. 

On  August  27,  1776,  Washington  was  defeated  on  Long 
Island.  He  was  driven  from  Harlem  Plains  September  16, 
was  defeated  at  White  Plains  October  28,  but  gained  a  vic- 
tory at  Trenton  December  26.  and  at  Princeton  January 
3d,  and  withdrew  to  winter  quarters  at  Morristown,  in  East 
Jersey.  By  permission  of  Gen.  Schuyler,  Gen.  Gates  left 
Ticonderoga  in  the  beginning  of  November  and  proceeded 
to  Philadelphia  to  continue  his  efforts  for  the  chief  com- 
mand in  the  north. 


MORTAR. 


THE  CAMPAIGN  OF  1777. 


HE  winter  at  Ticonderoga  was  a  gloomy  one.  The 
garrison  had  dwindled  to  a  few  hundred  men  in 
February,  1777.  The  garrison  was  under  command 
of  Col.  Anthony  Wayne,  afterwards  the  hero  of 
Stony  Point. 
Thaddeus  Kosciusko,  the  eminent  Pole,  was  at 
Ticonderoga  during  the  winter.  Under  his  direction,  the 
fortress  on  Mount  Independence,  on  the  east  side  of  the 
lake,  was  strengthened,  and  a  boom  was  constructed  to  pre- 
vent the  passage  of  vessels  to  Skenesborough  (now  White- 
hall). Every  effort  in  his  power  was  made  by  Gen.  Schuyler 
to  strengthen  and  properly  garrison  Ticonderoga,  but  on 
account  of  the  opposition  of  John  Adams  and  others,  in  New 
England,  Schuyler's  efforts  were  crippled,  and  he  was  com- 
pelled to  defend  himself,  which  he  did  in  an  inquiry  he  de- 
manded of  Congress,  he  having  been  chosen  a  delegate  from 
New  York.  A  committee  of  inquiry  was  appointed  on  the 
18th  of  April.  This  committee,  after  a  tardy  examination, 
reported  favorably,  and  Congress  confirmed  him  in  his  com- 
mand. 

Before  Gen.  Schuyler's  case  had  been  examined,  or  any 
opportunity  for  defense  had  been  furnished  him,  Congress 
had  ordered  Gates  to  repair  immediately  to  Ticonderoga  to 
take  command  there,  and  employ  Gen.  DeFermoy  and  such 
other  French  officers  as  he  thought  proper.  Gen.  Arthur 
St.  Clair  was  also  ordered  to  Ticonderoga  to  report  to  Gates. 
On  the  17th  of  April,  the  day  before  the  Schuyler  inquiry 
was  ordered,  Gates  arrived  in  Albany  with  the  officers  de- 
tailed to  act  under  him. 

Gen.  Schuyler  arrived  in  Albany  on  the  3d  of  June,  where 
he  was  received  with  great  joy.  Gen.  Gates  was  still  at  Al- 
bany, but  his  occupation  was  gone  again,  John  Adams  hav- 
ing made  another  failure.     But  Gates  again  proposed  to  hold 


11 

to  the  commission  of  Congress  in  spite  of  Gen.  Schuyler, 
but  he  failed  again  and  returned  to  Philadelphia,  much  in- 
censed. Generals  St.  Clair  and  DeFermoy,  by  command  of 
Gen.  Schuyler,  proceeded  to  Ticonderoga  on  the  5th  of  June. 
Gen.  St.  Clair  had  command,  having  been  made  a  major- 
general  in  February  preceding.  As  the  summer  advanced 
recruits  began  to  reach  Ticonderoga  slowly. 

Lieutenant  General  Burgoyne,  after  fully  perfecting  his 
plans,  left  London  for  Canada  on  the  27th  of  March,  1777. 
Although  In  high  spirits,  the  great  opportunity  had  been 
lost,  and  he  was  bound  on  a  bootless  errand.  On  the  Gth 
of  May  Burgoyne  arrived  at  Quebec  with  the  commission 
of  commander-in-chief  of  the  troops  in  Canada.  Never- 
theless the  command  of  the  home  garrison  was  delegated 
to  Gov.  Carleton,  and  Burgoyne  only  commanded  the  expe- 
dition. On  the  12th  of  May  thirty-nine  vessels  arrived  at 
Quebec  with  400  of  the  troops  purchased  from  Ilanau, 
eleven  companies  from  England,  a  number  of  cannon  aid 
a  large  quantity  of  war  material.  By  the  18th  of  June  the 
whole  of  the  expedition  had  arrived  at  Cumberland  Head 
on  Lake  Champlain. 

In  addition  to  the  formidable  army  of  Burgoyne,  an  ex- 
pedition set  out  from  Montreal  under  Lieut.-Col.  St.  Leger, 
who  had  been  commissioned  by  George  the  Third  to  lead  an 
independent  force  into  the  Mohawk  country,  to  make  a  way 
to  Albany,  in  the  rear  of  the  main  army  of  the  Americans. 
The  expedition  consisted  of  a  force  of  British,  Canadians 
and  Indians,  with  Sir  John  Johnson,  of  Johnstown,  and  a 
body  of  his  retainers  and  tories. 

About  the  middle  of  June,  Gen.  Schuyler  heard  of  Bur- 
goyne's   advance   and   plans.     Every   effort   was   made   by 
Schuyler  to  reinforce  Ticonderoga,  but   with  little  success. 
Troops  were  sent  by  Washington  to  Peekskill,  but  they  re 
mained  there  until  it  was  too  late. 

Burgoyne  moved  from  Cumberland  Head  to  the  mouth  of 
the  Bouquet,  in  Essex  county,  where  he  encamped  on  the 
21st  and  addressed  the  Indians  who  had  joined  him.  His 
army  was  a  splendid  body  of  men.     It  was  composed  of  three 


12 

thousand  seven  hundred  and  twenty-four  British,  rank 
and  file;  nearly  four  thousand  Germans,  mostly  Bruns- 
wickers ;  two  hundred  and  fifty  Canadians,  four  hundred 
Indians  and  four  hundred  and  seventy-three  artillerymen  ; 
in  all  between  eight  thousand  and  nine  thousand  men.  Its 
train  of  bronze  artillery   was  the   finest  that  ever  was  mar- 


ONE  OF   BURGOYNE  S    CANNON",   NOW    IN  THE    WATERVLIET 
ARSENAL. 

shaled  with  an  army  of  like  size.  The  ai  tillery  was  under 
command  of  Major-General  Wm.  Phillips,  who  had  distin- 
guished himself  in  the  wars  in  Germany.  The  Germans 
were  commanded  by  Major-General  Kiedesel,  a  brave  and 
experienced  Brunswick  officer.  The  remainder  of  the  force 
was  commanded  by  Burgoyne,  and  Brig.-Gen.  Simon 
Frazer,  a  gallant  Scotch  officer  upon  whom  Burgoyne  great- 
ly relied.  The  preceding  cut  is  taken  from  one  of  Bur- 
goyne's  twelve  pounders,  surrendered  by  the  convention  of 
Saratoga,  October  17,  1777.  It  is  of  bronze,  highly  orna- 
mented with  coats  of  arms  and  inscriptions.  It  has  in- 
scribed upon  it  the  following,  which  is  significant  in  con- 
nection with  the  notable  failure  of  the  British  army  in  the 
south  to  co-operate  with  Burgoyne : 

The  Right  Honorable  Lord  Geo.  Sackville, 

Lieut.-GJ-en.,   and  the  Hesc  of  the 

Principal    Officers  of   His 

Majesty's  Ordnance. 

Lord  George  Sackville,  afterward  Lord  George  Germaine, 
secretary  of  state  for  the  colonies,  according  to  Lord  Ed- 
ward Fitzmaurice,  in  his  life  of  the  Earl  of  Shelburne, 
properly  signed  the  dispatches  to  Burgoyne,  which  had  been 
settled  upon,  and  they  were  sent  off  in  an  early  packet,  but 
the  dispatches  to  Gen.  Howe,  ordering  him  to  co-operate  with 
Burgoyne  were  not  well  copied,  and  Lord  Germaine  did  not 


13 

sign  or  wait  for  another  copy,  but  posted  off  to  his  country 
seat  to  take  his  pleasure.  When  he  was  ready  in  London 
again  to  sign,  Burgoyne's  dispatches  had  been  gone  some 
time.  The  vessel  which  carried  Howe's  orders  was  detained 
on  its  voyage,  so  that  Howe  went  off  in  the  wrong  direction 
leaving  Burgoyne  to  his  fate.  After  the  dispatches  were  re- 
ceived, Howe  did  what  he  could,  but  it  was  too  late. 

On  the  25th  of  June  Burgoyne  moved  to  Crown  Point 
and  issued  a  pompous  proclamation,  stating  that  he  "  had 
come  to  put  an  end  to  the  enormities  of  the  people,"  and  in- 
vited all  well  disposed  to  join  him,  and  threatening  ven- 
geance upon  the  hardened  enemies  of  Britain,  through  his 
Indian  allies.  His  bombast  only  excited  ridicule.  On  the 
first  of  July  he  moved  upon  Ticonderoga  in  two  divisions 
with  his  fleet  between  them.  The  corps  of  Gen.  Phillips 
was  upon  the  west  shore  and  the  Germans  of  Gen.  "Riedesel 
upon  the  east. 

To  oppose  the  formidable  army  of  Burgoyne,  Gen.  Schuy- 
ler had  two  thousand  five  hundred  and  forty-six  Continentals 
and  nine  hundred  militia,  the  latter  almost  wholly  without 
bayonets,  entrenched  at  Ticonderoga  and  Mount  Independ- 
ence. The  garrison  was  wholly  insufficient  to  man  the  works. 
Gen.  Schuyler  was  at  Albany  awaiting  the  reinforcements 
from  Peekskill. 

On  the  second  of  July,  St.  Clair  abandoned  the  old 
French  lines  toward  lake  George.  On  the  3d  Generals 
Phillips  and  Frazer  occupied  Mount  Hope  north  of  and 
commanding  the  outlet  of  Lake  George.  On  the  east  side 
Col.  Breyman  threatened  the  road  to  Castleton,  Vermont. 
On  the  night  of  the  4th  of  July,  by  advice  of  Burgoyne's 
engineer,  Lieut.  Twiss,  a  road  was  made  to  the  summit  of 
Mount  Defiance  on  the  south  side  of  the  outlet  of  Lake 
George  and  cannon  dragged  to  the  top,  thus  commanding 
the  American  works. 


OSTE  OF  BURGOYNE'S  HOWITZERS. 


14 

On  the  morning  of  the  5th,  St.  Clair  and  his  officers  de- 
cided to  evacuate.  At  two  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the 
6th  the  garrison  was  put  in  motion.  The  main  body  set 
out  for  Castleton  with  Col.  Ebenezer  Francis  of  Massachu- 
setts commanding  the  rear  guard.  The  sick,  with  the 
provisions,  under  a  convoy  and  troops  under  Col.  Long, 
proceeded  by  batteaux  to  Skenesborough.  Before  leaving 
Mount  Independence  Gen.  De  Fermoy  set  fire  to  his  quarters, 
revealing  the  retreat  to  the  British.  Gen.  Frazer  imme- 
diately began  pursuit.  Riedesel  and  Breyman  joined  in  the 
pursuit  with  their  Germans,  but  owing  to  their  heavy  ac- 
coutrements they  were  slower  than  Frazer,  who  came  up 
with  the  rear  guard  of  the  Americans  under  Francis  and 
Col.  Seth  Warner  at  Hubbardton,  22  miles  from  Ticonder- 
oga,  on  the  road  to  Castleton,  on  the  morning  of  the  7th  of 
July.  Frazer  immediately  attacked.  The  Americans  gave 
him  a  warm  reception,  displaying  signal  bravery.  But 
Hale's  regiment  ran  away  and  was  captured,  leaving  but 
700  men  to  fight  the  British  and  Germans.  The  men  under 
St.  Clair  refused  to  return  and  fight.  After  KiedeseFs 
Germans  came  up  and  charged,  chanting  a  psalm,  the 
Americans  were  compelled  to  fall  back  with  the  loss  of  Col. 
Francis  and  324  killed,  wounded  and  prisoners,  exclusive  of 
Hale's  party.  At  one  time  the  Americans  got  the  advan- 
tage of  Frazer.  The  British  loss  was  only  183,  including 
Major  Grant.  This  was  the  only  battle  fought  in  Vermont. 
Col.  Warner  retreated  to  Manchester,  and  General  St.  Clair, 
after  wandering  in  the  forests  of  Vermont  for  nearly  a 
week,  reached  Fort  Edward  on  the  12th  of  July  with  1,500 
men. 

The  retreat  of  the  Americans  from  Ticonderoga  to 
Skenesborough  was  disastrous.  The  British  broke  the 
boom  between  Ticonderoga  and  Mount  Independence  and 
with  armed  vessels,  a  body  of  the  9th  British  Infantry 
under  Lieut.-Col.  Hill,  and  savages,  pursued,  and  were  upon 
the  Americans  as  they  landed.  Col.  Long  burned  the  boats 
and  storehouses  and  the  whole  party  fled  to  Fort  Anne, 
reaching  there  on  the  morning  of  the  7th  of  July.  Being 
reinforced,  Col.  Long  marched  out  to  meet  the  advance  of 


15 

Col,  IT  ill  on  the  8  th,  defeated  the  British,  but  retreated  to 
Fort  Anne  on  account  of  lack  of  ammunition;  burned  the 
fort  (an  old  stockade),  and  retreated  to  Fort  Edward. 

The  fall  of  Ticonderoga  produced  the  greatest  consterna- 
tion, and  the  settlers  in  northern  New  York  and  western 
Vermont  fled  from  their  homes  in  utter  terror. 

In  the  meantime  Gen.  Schuyler  had  waited  impatiently 
at  Albany  until  the  7th  of  July  for  the  arrival  of  troops 
from  Peekskill  to  reinforce  St.  Clair.  On  that  day  he  set 
out  for  the  north  with  a  few  militia,  the  Continentals  fail- 
ing to  arrive.  On  the  route,  between  Stillwater  and  Sara- 
toga, Gen.  Schuyler  learned  of  the  disaster,  the  full  extent 
of  which  was  not  known  until  St.  Clair  reached  Fort  Ed- 
ward on  the  12th. 

New  England  and  John  Adams  now  had  their  hour  of 
triumph.  They  had  shamefully  neglected  to  provide  for 
the  defense  of  the  fortress  of  Ticonderoga,  and  it  had  fallen. 
But  the  New  England  faction  did  not  take  any  blame 
to  themselves  but  attributed  all  the  misfortune  to  Gen. 
Schuyler.  The  good  Samuel  Adams  even  declared  in  a 
letter  to  Gen.  Lee  that  "it  was  no  more  than  he  expected 
when  Schuyler  was  again  appointed  to  command."  He 
added,  "  Gates  is  the  man  of  my  choice."  All  of  this  con- 
demnation was  freely  vented  before  any  of  the  particulars 
had  reached  Congress  or  New  England.  Gen  Schuyler  was 
even  accused  of  treason,  and  that  silver  balls  were  fired  by 
the  British  into  Ticonderoga  and  delivered  to  him  by  St. 
Clair.  This  ridiculous  story  was  believed  by  many.  Gen. 
Washington  cheered  Schuyler,  writing  to  him :  "  We 
should  never  despair."  The  army  had  lost  nearly  every- 
thing but  a  few  stores  at  Fort  George,  on  Lake  George. 

Burgoyne  arrived  at  Skenesborough  on  the  10th  of  July 
and  waited  for  his  tents,  supplies  and  artillery.  The  delay 
was  his  defeat  and  ruin.     His  splendid  train  of  artillery  * 


*  A  great  number  of  Burgoyne's  fine  bronze  cannon  are  now  among  the  trophies 
at  the  Watervliet  arsenal.  The  cuts  which  we  present  are  from  accurate  drawings 
of  these  guns.  This  artillery  was  very  fine  for  a  London  parade,  but  too  cumber- 
some for  a  campaign  in  the  forests  of  the  North.  His  train  consisted  of  forty-two 
pieces. 


16 
became  an  encumbrance  and  mastered  him.     He  thought 


£«-N 


MORTAR  SURRENDERED  BY  BURGOYNE  OCT.  17,  1777. 

he  was  a  victor  and  immediately  issued  an  exultant  order 
detailing  the  success  of  his  arms,  and  calling  upon  the 
people  to  join  him.  Schuyler  answered  him  in  vigorous 
style.  Burgoyne  was  joined  at  Skenesborough  by  1,000  In- 
dians and  thought  himself  strong,  and  waited.  The  plan 
of  Burgoyne  was  for  his  main  body  to  move  on  to  Fort  Ed- 
ward, while  a  column  under  Phillips  was  to  proceed  up  Lake 
George,  reduce  Fort  George  at  its  southern  extremity  and 
join  the  main  body  at  Fort  Edward.  By  this  plan  Bur- 
goyne subjected  himself  to  the  delay  of  clearing  two  roads 
to  Fort  Edward.  It  is  stated  that  General  Riedesel  favored 
a  route  from  Fort  George  directly  south  through  the  wilder- 
ness instead  of  marching  along  the  Hudson. 

While  Burgoyne  waited,  Schuyler  was  active.  He  re- 
moved the  stores  from  Fort  George  and  cut  trees  and 
destroyed  bridges  and  choked  Wood  creek  with  fallen  tim- 
ber, completely  blocking  Burgoyne's  road.  He  also  called 
on  the  inhabitants  to  drive  their  cattle  and  horses  out  of 
Burgoyne's  reach.  Schuyler's  militia  was  destitute  of 
proper  food  and  shelter  and  were  deserting.  Still  he  toiled 
bravely  and  wrote  in  every  direction  for  help  to  oppose  Bur- 
goyne. Regarding  Fort  Edward  untenable,  with  the  aid  of 
Kosciusko,  the  famous  Pole,  he  fortified  a  position  at  Moses 
creek,  four  or  five  miles  below.  He  asked  for  an  ex- 
perienced general  officer,  and  the  brave  Gen.  Benedict  Ar- 
nold was  sent  by  Washington.  General  Benjamin  Lincoln 
of  Massachusetts  was  also  sent  to  command  the  eastern 
militia.  This  was  opportune,  for  the  New  England  militia 
were  deserting  by  regiments  to  secure  their  harvests. 


17 


COAT   OF  ARMS   FROM  ON"E  OF  BURGOYSTE'S  TWELVE 
POUNDERS. 

On  the  21st  of  July  Burgoyne  began  his  advance  toward 
Fort  Edward.  The  labor  was  severe.  Gen.  Phillips  began 
to  cut  his  way  through  the  obstructions  from  Fort  George 
and  Gen.  Frazer  advanced  laboriously  from  Skenesborough 
by  way  of  Fort  Anne,  outstripping  Phillips.  By  tremen- 
dous effort  Frazer's  advance,  consisting  of  savages,  appeared 
before  Fort  Edward  on  the  26th  of  July  and  drove  in  the 
outposts.  Frazer  came  up  on  the  27th  and  Burgoyne  on 
the  31st.  Only  a  small  force  was  in  the  fort,  but  the  inhab- 
itants in  the  vicinity  immediately  took  shelter  in  it. 

On  the  27th  a  reconnoitering  party  under  Lieutenant 
Palmer  was  sent  from  the  fort.  The  party  fell  into  an  am- 
buscade a  mile  north  of  the  fort  and  fled  for  their  lives. 
The  Indians  pursuing  shot  and  scalped  eighteen.  When 
near  the  fort  Lieutenant  Palmer  was  shot.  The  Indians 
rushed  forward  and  entered  the  house  of  a  Mrs.  McNeil, 
who  was  a  cousin  of  Gen.  Frazer,  and  being  a  loyalist,  had 
not  entered  the  fort  for  protection.  The  Indians  there 
seized  Mrs.  McNeil  and  Jane  McCrea,  who  was  there  as  a 
visitor,  and  bore  them  toward  Gen.  Frazer's  headquarters  in 
the  direction  of  Sandy  Hill.  On  the  way  Jane  McOrea  was 
murdered  and  scalped  in  sight  of  th?  fore.  Her  body  was 
3 


18 

buried  next  day  by  a  party  from  the  fort.  There  are  many 
different  versions  of  this  affair.  Mrs.  McNeil  was  taken 
to  Gen.  Frazer  nearly  disrobed.  Miss  McCrea's  lover,  David 
Jones,  was  attached  to  Burgoyne's  army  as  a  lieutenant. 
This  wanton  murder  did  more  to  rouse  the  lagging  colonists 
than  any  event  that  had  yet  occurred.  The  story  touched 
all  and  roused  the  people  to  vengeance. 

On  the  28th  of  July,  Fort  Edward  was  abandoned  and  on 
the  31st,  the  army  of  Gen.  Schuyler  retreated  from  Moses 
Creek  to  Saratoga,  (now  Schuylerville),  and  a  few  days  later 
to  Stillwater.  In  the  meantime  Gen.  Lincoln  had  been  sent 
to  the  New  Hampshire  Grants,  to  raise  a  force  in  addition 
to  Col.  Seth  Warner's,  and  was  ordered  to  hang  upon  the 
flank  and  rear  of  Burgoyne. 

At  Fort  Edward,  Burgoyne  found  the  difficulties  in  sup- 
plying his  army  increase.  He  had  no  horses  to  mount  his 
dragoons  or  haul  his  supplies,  and  his  men  were  compelled 
to  bring  provisions  from  Fort  George  to  supply  the  troops 
from  day  to  day. 

At  this  time,  Tryon  county,  into  which  St.  Leger  was  ad- 
vancing from  Oswego,  was  asking  Gen.  Schuyler  for  aid. 
In  June,  1776,  Gen.  Schuyler  had  sent  Col.  Dayton  to  re- 
pair the  works  at  Fort  Stanwix,  where  the  city  of  Rome  now 
stands.  He  made  partial  repairs  and  named  the  fort  Schuy- 
ler. In  the  last  of  Arpil,  1777,  Col.  Gansevoort,  with  the 
Third  New  York  regiment,  750  strong,  was  sent  to  snpply 
his  place. 

Gen.  Schuyler  again  asked  Washington  for  reinforcements, 
but  Washington  could  spare  only  Glover's  brigade,  as  he 
was  intently  watching  Howe,  confidently  expecting  he  would 
move  up  the  north  river  to  support  Burgoyne.  Howe  had 
not  received  Lord  George  Germaine's  dispatches,  and  con- 
sequently acted  in  a  way  that  sorely  puzzled  Washington. 

On  the  first  of  August,  the  forces  of  St.  Leger,  1700  strong, 
appeared  before  Fort  Stanwix.  On  the  2d  the  fort  was  in- 
vested. In  July,  Lieut. -Col.  Marinus  Willett,  of  New  York, 
had  joined  the  garrison  under  Gansevoort.  The  garrison 
amounted  to  750  men.       General  Herkimer  called  out  the 


19 

Tryon  county  militia  and  marched  to  the  relief  of  the 
garrison  righting  the  desperate  and  bloody  battle  of  Oriskany 
on  the  6th  of  August,  as  he  was  approaching  the  fort. 
Gen.  Herkimer  was  mortally  wounded  and  died  a  few 
days  after.  A  sortie  from  the  fort  on  the  same 
day,  was  very  successful,  the  enemy  losing  a  great 
quantity  of  baggage  and  stores  with  five  stands  of  colors. 
Gansevoort  refused  a  summons  to  surrender,  and  Col.  Willett 
and  Lieut.  Stockwell  volunteered  to  pass  through  the  enemy's 
lines  to  apprise  Gen.  Schuyler.  They  left  the  fort  on  a 
stormy  night  and  started  on  their  journey.  On  the  12th  of 
August  they  reached  Stillwater  and  asked  for  reinforcements. 
Gen.  Schuyler  was  then  quartered  in  the  Dirck  Swart  house, 
still  standing  in  the  northern  part  of  the  town.  A  sketch 
of  the  house  is  presented  in  another  place.  On  the  13th  a 
council  of  war  was  held.  The  officers  opposed  sending  re- 
inforcements and  intimated  that  Gen.  Schuyler  meant  to 
weaken  the  army.  Gen.  Schuyler  heard  the  remark  and 
immediately  replied  with  considerable  anger  that  he  took 
the  responsibility  himself,  and  called  for  volunteers  the  next 
day.     The  brave  and  impulsive  Arnold  volunteered,  and  on 


GENERAL   BENEDICT   ARNOLD. 

the  next  day  set  out  with  800  men  to  relieve  Fort  Stanwix. 
He  arrived  at  Fort  Dayton  on  the  20th  and  pressed  forward 
as  rapidly  as  possible.  He  sent  forward  from  Fort  Dayton 
a  tory  prisoner,  Hon  Yost  Cuyler,  with  an  exaggerated 
story  of  Arnold's  force,  and  his  clothes  shot  through  with 
bullets.    He  reached  St.  Leger'scamp,  told  his  story,  which 


20 

was  corroborated  by  an  Oneida  Indian  who  followed,  and 
created  such  a  panic  that  the  Indian  allies  of  St.  Leger 
precipitately  fled  on  the  22d  of  August,  compelling  him 
_to  follow,  leaving  his  tents  and  artillery.  Burgoyne,  at 
Fort  Edward,  had  heard  by  courier  of  St.  Leger's  arrival 
before  Fort  Stanwix  and  determined  to  push  on  to  Albany 
to  co-operate  with  him.  But  Burgoyne  needed  provisions. 
Major  Skene  advised  an  attempt  to  seize  the  American 
stores  at  Bennington.  Gens.  Philips  and  Eiedesel  opposed 
the  measure  as  very  hazardous.  But  Burgoyne,  trusting  to 
the  loyalty  of  the  region,  determined  to  make  the  attempt. 
On  the  9th  of  August  he  detached  Col.  Baum  to  Benning- 
ton with  500  Germans,  Canadians  and  Tories,  and  100  In- 
dians and  two  small  cannon.  He  was  to  try  the  affections 
of  the  country,  mount  Eiedesel's  dragoons,  obtain  large  sup- 
plies of  cattle,  horses,  carriages  and  stores.  He  set  out  on 
the  12th,  reached  Cambridge  on  the  13th,  skirmished  with 
the  Americans  and  learned  that  the  Americans  were  1800 
strong  at  Bennington,  and  sent  word  to  Burgoyne.  On  the 
14th  Baum  captured  a  mill  at  Sancoik,  driving  Col.  Gregg 
with  a  party  of  200  Americans  before  him.  Gregg  being 
reinforced  by  Stark's  troops  at  Bennington, Col.  Baum  did  not 
force  the  fighting,  but  withdrew  to  a  wooded  height  on  the 
Walloomsack,  four  or  five  miles  north-west  of  Bennington, 
in  the  state  of  New  York,  intrenched,  and  awaited  rein- 
forcements. By  order  of  Burgoyne,  Col.  Breyman  set  out 
on  the  15th,  with  500  heavily  armed  Germans,  with  two 
field  pieces,  to  reinforce  Baum. 

Gen.  Stark,  an  experienced  soldier  who  had  retired  to  his 
home  in  New  Hampshire  after  the  battle  of  Princeton,  because 
congress  had  not  promoted  him  instead  of  j  unior  officers, 
had  been  induced  by  his  state  to  take  command  of  a  force 
to  repel  any  incursion  of  Burgoyne  into  New  England.  At 
the  time  of  Baum's  invasion  he  was  at  Bennington  holding 
an  independent  command  from  New  Hampshire,  having 
refused  on  the  8th  of  August  to  join  Gen.  Schuyler.  Stark 
heard  of  Baum's  approach  on  the  13th  and  dispatched  Col. 
Gregg  to  meet  him,  in  the  meantime  sending  for  aid  to 
Massachusetts  and  to  Manchester,  Vermont,  to  Col.  Seth 


21 

Warner,  who,  with  General  Lincoln,  was  acting  under  Gen. 
Schuyler's  orders.  On  the  14th  Gen.  Stark  marched  out  to 
meet  Baum,  the  latter  being  well  intrenched  on  two 
heights.  On  the  15th  it  rained  heavily.  Warner's 
regiment  was  on  the  march  from  Manchester.  Warner 
himself  was  on  the  ground  in  time  to  aid  Stark  in  his  dis- 
positions on  the  16th.  About  3  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of 
the  16th  Stark,  having  a  force  estimated  at  from  1,800  to 
2,500,  fell  upon  Baum  in  his  intrenchments  and  crushed 
him.  Baum  was  on  the  summit  of  the  hill  and  was  killed, 
while  nearly  all  his  men  were  either  killed  or  taken  pris- 
oners. Breyman  came  up  the  Cambridge  road  to  reinforce 
Baum,  while  Stark's  men  were  scattered  for  the  plunder 
they  had  been  promised.  A  running  fight  ensued.  Baum's 
cannon  were  finally  turned  upon  Breyman,  who  was  fired  on 
from  the  woods  on  both  flanks,  and  Seth  Warner's  regiment 
coming  up  from  Manchester,  after  drying  themselves  in 
Bennington,  put  Breyman  to  flight,  with  the  loss  of  his  two 
pieces  of  cannon.  In  all  207  of  the  enemy  were  killed  and 
seven  hundred  made  prisoners. 

After  dispatching  Baum  to  Bennington,  Burgoyne  moved 
down  the  east  side  of  the  Hudson  to  the  mouth  of  the  Bat- 
tenkill,  nearly  opposite  Old  Saratoga.  He  made  his  headquar- 
ters at  the  house  of  Wm.  Duer  (then  in  congress),  near  Fort 
Miller.  He  constructed  a  bridge  of  boats  across  the  Hud- 
son and  threw  over  Frazer's  corps  to  fortify  the  heights  and 
plains  of  Saratoga  north  of  Fish  creek,  the  ground  upon 
which  he  afterward  surrendered.  Old  Saratoga  was  south 
of  Fish  creek.  On  the  17th  of  August  Burgoyne  heard  of 
the  disaster  to  Baum  and  Breyman  and,  greatly  excited, 
put  himself  at  the  head  of  his  army  and  went  out  to  meet 
Breyman.  Breyman  came  in  and  encamped  with  the  army 
on  the  plain  at  the  junction  of  the  Battenkill  and  Hudson. 
On  the  26th  of  August  Burgoyne  heard  of  St.  Leger's  re- 
treat from  Fort  Stanwix  and  was  very  despondent.  Hear- 
ing nothing  from  Howe  he  lost  heart,  and  instead  of  acting 
with  vigor,  sat  still,  and  waited  for  supplies  and  reinforce- 
ments. 


GENERAL  SCHUYLER  AT  THE  SPROUTS  OF 
THE  MOHAWK. 


REMAINS   OF   THE   EASTERN"    REDOUBT   ON"    HAUVER  ISLAND, 
SOUTH   OF   WATERFORD. 

||{  HEN  Gen.  Schuyler  held  a  council  at  Stillwater  on 
the  13th  of  August  to  decide  upon  reinforcing 
Fort  Stanwix,  it  was  also  decided  to  take  up  posi- 
tion at  the  mouths  or  sprouts  of  the  Mohawk. 
This  movement  was  imperative,  as  on  that  date, 
Gen.  Schuyler  had  not  one  militiaman  from  the 
east  and  but  forty  from  New  York.  Be  sides,  the 
position  was  one  of  great  strategical  importance  at  that 
time,  being  on  the  road  to  Montreal  and  the  route  from  the 
Mohawk  valley.     In  case  of  the  success  of  St.  Leger  the 


23 

American  army  would  be  in  position  to  prevent  an  attack 
in  the  rear  from  his  victorious  forces.  The  movement  was 
made  on  the  14th  of  August,  before  the  battle  of  Benning- 
ton or  Walloomscoik,  and  when  an  advance  of  Burgoyne 
was  momentarily  expected.  The  main  army  encamped 
on  Van  Schaick's  Island  opposite  Lansingburgh  and  re- 
doubts, (see  map  and  cuts,)  three  in  number,  connected  by 
intrenchments,  were  thrown  up  on  the  north  end  of  Hau- 
ver  Island  opposite  Halfmoon,  (now  Waterford).  These  re- 
doubts are  in  an  excellent  state  of  preservation,  the  cuts 
which  we  present  being  from  accurate  sketches  made  last 
summer,  (June  1877.)  The  redoubts  commanded  the  fords 
of  the  north  sprout*  of  the  Mohawk  and  of  the  Hudson 
opposite  Halfmoon  Point.  They  were  thrown  up  under  the 
direction  of  Gen.  Kosciusko. 

Halfmoon  had  been  a  halting  place  for  troops  on  their 
way  to  the  north  since  1775,  when  Col.  Waterbury  of  Con- 
necticut halted  there  in  August,  1775  with  his  regiment  on 
their  way  to  join  Schuyler's  expedition  into  Canada.  Hig 
troops  were  employed  in  repairing  the  old  road  to  the  north 
so  that  supplies  could  be  more  easily  forwarded. 

While  Gen.  Schuyler  had  been  making  the  best  prepara- 
tion possible  to  meet  Burgoyne,  his  enemies  in  Congress 
had  been  busy.  Although  Gen.  St.  Clair  took  the  entire 
responsibility  of  the  evacuation  of  Ticor.deroga,  and 
Schuyler  had  received  but  little  support  in  his  patriotic 
efforts  to  stop  Burgoyne's  advance,  John  Adams  and  his 
faction  saw  their  opportunity   to   put   Gates  in  Schuyler's 


*At  that  time  there  were  no  bridges  across  either  the  Hudson  or  Mohawk.  The 
only  ferry  on  the  Mohawk  between  Van  Schaick's  Island  and  Schenectady  was'Lou- 
don's  about  five  miles  up  the  river,  where  Arnold  was  posted  with  the  left 
wing  of  he  American  army,  for  the  purpose  of  preventing  a  passage  at  that  place. 
There  was  another  ferry  near  Halfmoon  Point.  To  cross  the  Hudson  would  only 
have  been  leading  Burgoyne  out  of  the  way  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river  ;  be- 
sides the  conveying  so  large  an  i  rmy  over  that  stream  in  a  common  s  ow  boat,  and 
at  the  same  time  subject  to  the  opposition  of  the  Americans  who  lay  near  by, 
would  have  rendered  such  an  undertaking  impracticable.  These  being  the  facts, 
Burgoyne's  course  necossariy  la>  across  the  sprouts,  as  they  were  called,  or  mouths 
ot  the  Mohawk,  which,  ■  xcept  in  time  of  freshets,  were  fordablc,  and  by  four  of 
which  that  stream  enters  the  Hudson  ;  ihe  second  and  third  forming  Van  Schaick's 
Island,  across  which  the  road  passed,  and  was  the  usual  route  at  that  time.—  Neil- 
orCs  History. 


u 


CENTRE  REDOUBT  ON  HAUVER  ISLAND,  OPPOSITE 
WATERFORD. 

place.  On  the  1st  of  August,  Congress  passed  a  resolution 
ordering  Gen.  Schuyler  who  was  then  facing  Burgoyne  at 
Moses  Creek  with  a  handful  of  men,  "  to  repair  to  head- 
quarters, and  that  Gen.  Washington  be  directed  to  order 
such  general  officer  as  he  shall  think  proper  to  repair  im- 
mediately to  the  northern  department  to  relieve  Major 
General  Schuyler  in  his  command  there."  This  resolution, 
with  one  passed  July  29  :h  directing  an  inquiry  into  the 
evacuation  of  Ticonderoga,  was  forwarded  to  Gen.  Schuyler 
on  the  5th  of  August.  He  received  them  on  the  10th  but 
determined  to  continue  his  arduous  labors  with  patriotic 
spirit  until  his  successor  should  arrive. 

Gates's  New  England  friends  were  sa  anxious  that  he  be 
appointed  that  they  drew  up  an  impertinent  letter  praising 
Gates  and  requesting  Washington  to  appoint  him.  The 
letter  was  in  the  handwriting  of  Samuel  Adams  and  was 
first  signed  by  John  Adams,  the  other  New  England  dele- 
gates following. 


25 

[The  trees  growing  upon  the  redoubts  pictured  in  the  two 
preceding  cuts  are  of  large  size  and  are  doubtless  sprung 
from  seed  dropped  in  the  fresh  earth  thrown  up  by  Gen. 
Schuyler's  army  a  hundred  years  ago.  The  present  owner 
of  the  island,  A.  A.  Peebles,  a  grandson  of  John  G.  Va?i 
Schaick,*  who  was  the  owner  in  1777,  has  jealously  guarded 
these  mementoes  of  the  past.] 


WEST  REDOUBT  ON  HAUVER  ISLAND. 

Gen.  Washington  did  not  like  this  impertinence  and  in  a 
letter  to  Congress  on  the  3d  of  August,  declined  to  act.     He 


*Joftn  G.  Van  Schaick  was  a  brother-in-law  of  Col.  Peter  Gansevoort.  the  brave 
defender  of  Fort  Stanwix,  and  himself  a  sterling  patriot.  He  loaned  to  Gen.  Ga'es 
$  10,000  in  gold  to  pay  the  army,  taking  for  security  continental  notes  of  credit, 
which  were  never  redeemed,  many  being  now  in  possession  of  his  descendants. 
Gen.  Gates  had  his  headquarters  fur  a  time  at  Van  Schaick's  house,  which  is  still 
standing  opposite  La'singburgh.  The  island  had  been  in  possession  of  the  Van 
Schaicks  since  about  1643,  it  being  part  of  the  Halfaoon  patent,  which  extended 
for  several  miles  up  the  Hudson  and  up  the  Mohawk.  John  G.  Van  Sch>ick  is  well 
remembered  by  the  oldest  residents  of  Troy  and  Lansingburgh  as  the  last  man  who 
wore  a  cocked  hat  ffrid  knee-breeches,  in  this  vicinity. 

4 


MAJOR  GENERAL  PHILIP  SCHUYLER. 


had,  in  fact,  lost  confidence  in  Gates,  but  had  the  greatest 
esteem  for  Schuyler.  Schuyler  was  Washington's  peer  in 
almost  every  sense  of  the  term,  while  Gates  was  a  man  of 
mean  spirit.  Congress  then,  through  eastern  influence,  im- 
mediately appointed  Gates,  giving  him  absolute  power  (sub- 
ject to  Congress)  of  removal  and  appointment  in  his 
department,  a  power  which  he  afterward  exercised  in 
humiliating  Arnold.  The  army  was  not  greatly  pleased 
with  the  change,  the  New  England  general  officers  having 
joined  with  others  in  expressing  regret  at  the  necessity 
which  compelled  Gen.  Schuyler  to  leave  the  command  of 
them.  Arnold,  who  was  the  bravest  general  and  best  sol- 
dier in  the  army,  had  a  profound  respect  for  Schuyler  and 
his  military  skill.  It  is  safe  to  say  that  Arnold  would  have 
ended  his  career  differently,  had  he  not  been  subjected  to 
the  meanness  of  Gates  and  the  coldness  of  John  Adams. 


27 

Gen.  Schuyler  gracefully  delivered  his  command  to  Gen. 
Gates,  who  arrived  at  Van  Schaick's  on  the  19th  of  August. 
On  that  day  Gen.  Schuyler  had  congratulated  Gen  Stark  on 
his  victory  at  Bennington,  and,  Stark,  acceding  to  General 
Schuyler's  wish,  subsequently  joined  the  army  under  Gates 
on  Van  Schaick's  Island.  Gen.  Schuyler  continued  with  the 
army  for  some  time,  but  Gen.  Gates  ignored  him,  and  he 
did  not  intrude.  In  December,  Congress  acquitted  him  of 
all  blame  for  the  loss  of  Ticonderoga.  He  then  left  the 
army  to  the  great  regret  of  Washington. 


HAP  OF  HADVEK  ISLAND. 


Gen.  Poor's  brigade  was  encamped  at  Loudon's  Ferry,  five 
miles  up  the  Mohawk.  Poor  was  joined  toward  the  last  of 
August  by  Col.  Daniel  Morgan,  with  his  corps  of  riflemen, 
which  had  been  detached  from  Washington's  force,  reach- 
ing Gates'  army,  by  forced  marches.  Gen.  Arnold  also  en- 
camped at  Loudon's  Ferry  after  his  return  from  the  relief  of 
Fort  Stanwix.  The  army,  while  resting  at  the  sprouts  of 
the  Mohawk,  was  clothed,  paid  and  reorganized. 

With  a  dense  forest  between  him  and  Burgoyne's  force, 
Gates  knew  little  of  the  enemy.  About  the  first  of  Septem- 
ber Dr.  Wood,  surgeon  to  General  Burgoyne,  arrived  at  Van 
Schaick's  with  a  letter  from  his  general  complaining  of  the 
treatment  of  the  prisoners  captured  by  Stark  at  Benning- 
ton. On  the  second  of  September  Gates  answered  Bur- 
goyne  in    a   public   letter  reciting  the   murder  of   Jane 


28 

McOrea*  and  the  cruelties  inflicted  by  the  savages  following 

the  British  army.     This  letter  aroused  the  Americans  and 

greatly  aided  in  strengthening  the  army.     In  Parliament, 

-  Burke  used  the  story  told  by  Gates  with  powerful  effect. 


*  General  Gates  wrote :  "  That  the  savages  should,  in  their  warfare,  mangle 
the  unhappy  prisoners  who  fall  into  their  hands,  is  ne  ther  new  no*  extraordinary ; 
but  that  ihe  famous  General  Burgoyne,  in  whom  the  fine  gentleman  is  united  with 
the  scholar,  should  hire  the  savages  of  America  to  scalp  Europeans;  nay  more,  that 
he  should  pay  a  price  for  each  scalp  so  barbai  ously  taken  is  more  than  w  ill  be  belie  ved 
in  Europe,  until  authenticated  facts  shall  in  every  gazette  confirm  the  norrid  tale.'' 
He  added  :  "'Miss  McCrea,  a  young  lady,  lovely  to  the  sight,  of  virtuous  character 
and  amiable  disposition,  engaged  to  an  officer  of  your  army,  was,  with  other  women 
and  children,  taken  out  of  a  house  at  Fort  Edward,  carried  into  the  woods,  and 
there  scalped  and  mangled  in  the  most  shocking  manner.  Two  parents  with  their 
six  children,  were  treated  with  the  same  inhumanity,  while  quietl-  resting  in  their 
own  happy  and  peaceful  dwelling.  The  miserable  fate  of  Miss  McCrea  was  particu- 
larly aggravated,  by  being  Pressed  to  receive  her  promised  husband  ;  but  met  her 
murderers  employed  by  you.  Upwards  of  one  him  ired  men,  women,  and  children 
have  perished  by  the  hands  of  the  ruffians,  to  whom,  it  is  asserted,  you  have  paid 
the  price  of  blood."  This  letter  was  effective,  although  the  facts  were  not  carefully 
stated. 

As  the  heroine  of  the  sad  romance,  which  had  such  an  effect  upon  the  fortunes  of 
the  s  rugging  colonies,  Jane  McCrea,  well  deserves  the  place  given  her  in  these 
pages,  Th3  port  ait  which  we  present  is  ideal,  but  made  from  a  careful  study  of 
her  personal  appearance,  as  decribed  by  those  who  knaw  her  history  and  character. 
Charles  Neilson,  author  of  "  Bargoyne's  Campaign  "  received  from  his  father, 
who  dvei  on  the  field  of  Bemis  ieights,  and  those  who  knew  Jane  McCrea,  a  de- 
scription of  herappearance.  Mr.  Neilson  writes:  "  At  the  time  of  her  death  shewas 
about,  twenty  three  years  of  age,  ot  middling  stature,  finely  formed,  dark  hair,  and 
uncommonly  beautiful.'1 

In  1818  Lossing  visited,  at  Glen's  Falls,  "  Mrs.  F n,"  then  sixty  years  old  'he 

granddaughter  of  Mrs.  McNeil,  who  was  captured  with  Miss  McCrea.  She  related 
the  story  as  follows:  "Jane  McCrea  was  the  daughter  of  a  Scotch  Presbyterian 
clergymm  of  Jersey  City,  then  known  as  Paulus'  Hook.  Mrs.  McNeil  was  an  inti- 
mate acquaintance  of  Miss  McCrea's  father,  and  when  he  died,  the  latter  went  to 
live  with  her  br  ther  at  Fort  Edward,  where  Mrs.  McNeil  then  also  resided.  Near 
her  brother  Jived  a  family  named  Jones,  and  Miss  McCrea  and  young  David  Jones 
became  attached  to  each  other,  and  were  betrothed.  The  Joneses  took  the  royal  side 
when  the  war  broke  out  anl  in  the  autumn  of  1776,  David  Jones  and  his  brother 
Jonathan  raisel  a  company  ot  men  under  pretense  of  going  to  swell  the  garrison  at 
Ticonderoga,  but  contiuued  down  the  lake  and  proceeded  to  Crown  Point,  where 
they  joined  the  British  army,  When  Gen.  Burgoyne  advanced  to  Fort  Edwa-d  in 
1777  David  Jones  was  a  lieutenant  in  the  corps  of  General  Frazer.  Mrs.  McNeil 
was  a  cousin  of  General  Frazer,  and  a  staunch  loyalist.  Miss  McCrea's  brother 
was  a  staunch  Wnig, and  when  the  British  approached  he  left  Fort  Ed  ward  and  went 
to  Schuyler's  army  at  Moses  creek.  His  si-ter  lingered  with  Mrs.  McNeil,  with  a 
laint  hope  that  she  mhjht  see  her  lover.  Her  brother  sent  repeated  requests  for 
her  to  join  him,  and  on  the  25th  of  July  hi  gxve  her  a  pjremptory  order  to  that 
effect.    She  promised  to  leave  the  next  day." 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  27th  the  ludians  appeared.  Nearly  everybody  but 
the  loyalists  had  taken  refuse  in  Fort  Edward.  The  two  women  were  siezed  and 
carried  off  toward  Gen.  Frazer' a  camp,  Miss  McCrea  on  horseback.  The  Indians 
nearly  disrobed  Mrs.  McNeii  and  took  her  into  camp  Sojii  after  they  appeared 
with  a  scalp  which  she  recognized  as  that  of  Miss  McCrea.    She  charged  them 


29 

Burgoyne  denied  Gates's  charges  indirectly,  although  he 
must  have  known  that  Whigs  and  Tories  had  been  alike 
wantonly  murdered.  The  whole  family,  six  in  number,  and 
three  negro  slaves  of  John  Allen,  a  Tory  of  Argyle,  were 
murdered  the  same  day  that  Jane  McOrea  lost  her  life. 
Burgoyne  did  not  dare  to  punish  his  red  allies,  for  many  had 
already  deserted.  They  helped  to  work  his  ruin  by  arous- 
ing the  people  to  vengeance. 

In  the  south  Howe,  without  the  orders,  which  as  we  have 
seen,  lay  in  the  office  of  Lord  George  Germaine  in  London, 
or  belated  by  his  indolence,  were  on  a  storm-tossed  vessel, 
went  skylarking  after  glory  by  the  cipture  of  Philadel- 
phia, instead  of  moving  up  the  Hudson  to  help  Burgoyne. 
As  Burgoyne  advanced  on  Ticonderoga,  Howe  evacuated 
New  Jersey,  and  on  the  5th  of  July  put  his  army  from 
17,000  to  20,000  strong,  on  transports,  and  lay  within  Sandy 
Hook  until  the  22nd,  a  puzzle  to  Washington,  who  expected 
he  would  move  up  the  Hudson.  Clinton  was  left  at  New 
York  but  was  indolent,  and  had  no  orders.  Before  putting 
to  sea  Howe  turned  toward  the  Hudson,  and  Washington 
hurried  Lord  Stirling  with  his  division  to  Peekskill :  but 


with  murdering  Miss  MCcrea,  but  thev  said  she  was  killed  by  a  bullet  from  a  party 
of  Americans  who  pursued  from  the  fort,  and  they  saved  the  scalp.  Mrs.  McNeil 
Delieved  the  story,  and  Lossing  was  also  inclined  to  believe  it.  Lossing  says 
Miss  McCreaV  hair  which  hung  from  the  scalp  "  was  of  extraordinary  length  and 
beauty,  -"easuring  a  yard  and  a  quarter.  She  was  then  about  twenty  years  old, 
and  a  very  lovely  girl.'"  The  version  of  Miss  McCr^a's  death  given  by  Lossing  is 
only  supported  by  he  tale  of  he  Indians  who  witnessed  it  and  took  her  scalp. 
Mrs  McXeil  did  not  know  how  Miss  McCrea  died. 

Neilson's  version  of  the  affair  received  from  Caleb  Baker,  Esq.,  of  Sandy  Hill,  is 
probably  the  correct  one.  Caleb  Baker  was  but  six  years  old  at  the  time  of  the 
murder,  but  his  father  who  lived  at  Sandy  Hil  was  in  the  fort  and  saw  the  whole 
affa;r.  Neilson  writes :  '•  Fro  n  that  place,  then  m  plain  view  of  the  scene  he  saw 
Jane  McCrea  shot  from  her  horse  by  the  Indians.  On  that  day  no  one  dared  ven- 
ture from  the  fort,  but  at  dawn  of  the  morning  of  the  2Sth,  Mr.  A.  Baker,  in  com- 
pany with  a  file  of  nen  from  the  fort,  went  in  search  of  the  body  of  Jane,  and  found 
it  naked  and  mutilated, about  twenty  rods  from  the  spot  where  they  had  seen  her  fall 
the  day  before,  together  with  the  body  of  an  American  officer,  both  stripped  and 
scalped.  Neither  Mr.  C.  Baker  nor  his  father,  A.  Ba'^er,  found  the  murdered  Tane 
while  still  breathing,  nor  were  the  Indians  surprised  by  an  American  scout.  There 
was  no  such  scout." 

There  is  no  proo'  that  the  Indians  were  sent  for  Miss  McCrea  by  any  one  in  the 
British  camp.  They  were  merely  a  marauding  party  ready  to  murder,  scalp  and 
mutilate  anyone  who  came  in  their  way.  They  doubtless  quarrelled  over  Miss 
McCrea  and  she  was  shot  in  the  melee.  The  m  inner  of  her  death  is  a  mystery  like 
that  of  the  lost  dauphin  and  the  man  in  the  iron  mask. 


JANE  MC  CREA. 

Howe  turned  about  and  went  up  the  East  river,  and  then 
put  to  sea  on  the  23d  of  July.  He  had  a  stormy  time.  For 
seven  clays  lie  was  beating  about  the  capes  of  the  Delaware. 
Twenty- six  days  he  tacked  to  the  southward  to  enter  Chesa- 
peake bay.  Washington  learned  about  the  first  of  August 
that  Howe  was  off  the  Delaware  capes,  but  feared  that  the 
movement  was  a  feint.  So  he  marched  and  countermarched 
until  the  22d  of  August  when  he  learned  that  Howe  had  en- 
tered Chesapeake  bay.  On  the  25th  Washington  reached 
Wilmington,  Delaware.  Howe  landed  at  Elktown  on  the 
25th,  54  miles  south  of  Philadelphia.  He  had  lost  his 
horses  by  his  stormy  voyage  and  was  crippled.  Washing- 
ton, on  the  9th  of  September,  took  position  north  of  the 
Brandy  wine  creek,  and  Howe  attacked  and  defeated  him 
there  on  the  11th,  but  owing  to  the  loss  of  his  horses  could 
not  gather  the  fruits  of  his  victory.  Washington  retreated 
to  Germantown. 


THE  FIRST  BATTLE  OF  BEMIS  HEIGHTS, 

SEPT.  19,  1777. 


Jjj|%]ST  the  8th  of  September  Gen.  Gates  broke  camp  at 
!  Van  Schaick's  Island  and  marched  to  Stillwater, 
arriving  there  next  day.  According  to  Lossing, 
Gates's  army  then  out-nnmbered  Burgoy  lie's,  which 
had  been  depleted  by  the  battle  of  Bennington  and 
the  necessity  of  garrisoning  Ticonderoga,  Carleton 
refusing  to  perform  that  service.  Other  authorities  place 
Gates's  army  at  about  6,000,  when  it  arrived  at  Stillwater. 
It  was  at  first  decided  to  intrench  there,  but  by  the  advice 
of  Kosciusko  a  more  eligible  position  was  selected  three 
miles  up  the  river  on  the  right  bank  at  Bern  is  Heights,  so 
named  from  a  man  named  Bemis  who  kept  a  public  house 
at  the  foot  of  the  river  hills  on  the  old  road  to  Skenes- 
borough.  Here  the  wooded  river  hills,  about  a  hundred 
feet  high,  and  seamed  with  ravines,  approached  to  within 
about  forty  rods  of  the  river.  The 
road  at  that  time  ran  along  the 
river  bank.  Northward  from  Be- 
mis's  the  river  flat  widens  by  a 
bend  in  the  stream,  narrowing  to 
a  few  rods  at  Wilbur's  Basin  about 
two  miles  above  Bemis's  tavern. 
The  ravines  run  back  to  the  west 
gradually  decreasing  in  depth  as  '  *W  ^  W"  / 
the  ground  rises,  until  at  three- 

quarters  of  a  mile  there  are  con-  ™addeus  kosciusko. 
siderable  areas  of  level  land  fit  for  the  movement  of  troops. 
In  1777,  there  were  a  few  rude  clearings  on  the  heights  west 
of  the  river,  the  principal  one  being  on  Freeman's  farm.  This 
was  an  oblong  space  in  front  of  the  Freeman  cottage(see  map,) 
its   length  extending    east   and   west  and  containing  some 


32 

twelve  or  fourteen  acres.  There  were  also  clearings  on 
Bemis  Heights,  about  three-quarters  of  a  mile  northwest 
of  Bemis's  tavern.  This  ground,  the  highest  in  the  vi- 
cinity, was  then  occupied  by  John  Neilson  and  is  now 
owned  by  his  son's  widow,  Mrs.  Charles  Neilson.  These 
points  are  accurately  indicated  on  the  map  of  the  field  here 
presented. 


fRAZER  C 

WCVNOCD 


BRITISH, 


MAP  OF  BEMIS  HEIGHTS. 

Along  the   brow  of  the  river   hills,   Kosciusko*  located 


*Thaddeus  Kosciusko  was  born  in  L  thuania  n  1730  f  an  am  ient  andn  ble  fam- 
ily, lie  was  educated  in  France.  There  he  became  acquainted  wi  h  Dr.  Franklin, 
and  was  by  him  recommended  to  Gen.  Washington.  Before  leaving  Poland  he  had 
eloped  vith  a  beau  iful  ladv  cf  high  rank.  They  were  overtaken  n  their  flight  by 
her  lather,  who  made  a  violent  attempt  to  rescue  his  daughter.  The  young  Pole 
had  either  to  slay  the  lather  or  abandon  the  young  lady.  Abhorring  the  former 
act,  he  sheathed  his  sword  and  econ  after  elt  the  country.  He  came  to  America 
and  joined  the  patriot  army  a*  a  volunteer,  Oct.  18, 1776. 


33 


breastworks,  strengthened  at  intervals  with  redoubts  for 
cannon.  On  each  side  of  Bemis's  tavern,  on  the  hills,  strong 
redoubts  were  erected.  The  lines  ran  from  Bemis's  north- 
ward, bending  to  the  west  in  circular  form  with  a  strong  re- 
doubt at  the  sharpest  turn.     This  is  the  northeast  redoubt 


GROUND  PLAN  OF  AMERICAN  WORKS  ON  THE  RIVER  PLAT. 

commanding  the  plain  and  river,  and  is  on  a  sandy  hill. 
Within  this  redoubt  is  now  a  neglected  burial  place  of  the 
Vandenburgh  family,  with  a  few  monuments  still  standing. 
The  elder  of  the  Vandenbnrghs  was  an  ardent  republican, 
and  his  house  on  the  river  below  was  burned  on  the  19th 
of  September.  From  this  redoubt  to  the  west,  the  lines  fol- 
low the  bend  of  a  ravine.  At  the  head  of  this  ravine,  on 
an  eminence,  about  50  rods  east  of  the  old  Neilson  house, 
was  subsequently  erected  another  redoubt,  designated  on  the 
map  as  the  "  centre  redoubt."  Of  these  lines,  hardly  a  ves- 
tige remains.  According  to  Neilson  the  American  lines 
did  not  extend  westward  much  beyond  the  northeast  redoubt 
on  the  river  hills,  at  the  time  of  the  first  battle.  Lossing 
says  the  American  intrenchments  at  that  time  reached  the 
heights  where  the  Neilson  house  now  stands.  The  lines 
were  about  three-quarters  of  a  mile  in  extent  from  the  river. 
From  the  foot  of  the  abrupt  height  of  the  river  hills,  an  in- 
trenchment  extended  across  the  narrow  flat  to  the  river  op- 


AMERICAN  WORKS   ON    THE  RIVER  FLAT  AS  THEY  APPEAR 
TO-DAY. 
5 


34 

posite  Bemis's  tavern,  with  a  redoubt  on  the  river  bank  com- 
manding a  floating  bridge.  These  intrenchments  are  in  an 
excellent  state  of  preservation  and  are  very  interesting. 
Military  engineers  who  have  examined  them,  say  they  are 
in  excellent  form  to  resist  attack  in  front  and  from  the 
river.  About  a  half  mile  above  Bemis's  tavern,  a  short 
line  of  breastworks,  with  a  redoubt,  was  thrown  up,  south 
of  Mill  Creek,  where  the  road  crossed  that  stream. 

Burgoyne  rested  at  the  mouth  of  the  Battenkill  on  the 
east  bank  of  the  Hudson,  until  the  11th  of  September, 
gathering  supplies  for  30  days.  Without  consulting  his  of- 
ficers, he  surprised  them  on  the  11th  with  an  order  to  be 
ready  to  move  forward  next  day.  It  had  been  intimated  to 
Burgoyne  by  some  of  his  officers,  that  it  would  be  wisdom 
to  fall  back  to  Ticonderoga.  He  felt  compelled  to  obey  the 
orders  given  him  by  the  British  ministry,  and  moved  for- 
ward.    The  British  generals  in  this  campaign  obeyed  orders 


r?    y^^^^^fe}?;- 


THE  OLD  NEILSON  HOUSE  OK  BEMIS  HEIGHTS,  WITH  A  VIEW 
OF  BURGOYNE'S  CAMP   AT    WILBUR'S   BASIN. 


too  str'ctly,  instead  of  using  common  sense.  Burgoyne  went 
forward  hoping  to  push  through  to  Albany  by  some  piece  of 
good  luck.  As  Gates  said  of  him,  he  was  a  "  an  old  game- 
ster," and  had  a  certain  respect  for  chance.  From  the  time 
he  gave  the  order  his  movements  seemed  to  lack  decision- 
It  is  said  of  Burgoyne  by  the  Baroness  Eiedesel,  who  joined 
her  husband  in  the  early  summer  with  her  three  children, 
that  high  revel  and  debauch  rendered  him  unfit  for  the 
proper  discharge  of  his  duties.  The  German  historians, 
Von  Elking  especially,  attributed  Burgoyne's  defeat  to 
neglect  of  duty.     He  crept  toward  his  goal  at  a  snail's  pace, 

giving  the  Americans  time  to 
rally.  The  bridge  upon  which 
Frazer  had  crossed  the  Hudson 
to  the  heights  of  Saratoga,  had 
been  carried  away  by  a  freshet, 
and  "a  new  one  was  constructed 
of  rafts  just  above  the  mouth 
of  the  Battenkill.  A  redoubt 
was  thrown  up  and  cannon 
planted  to  cover  this  bridge. 
Remains  of  this  embankment 
still  exist  on  the  east  shore. 
The  12th  of  September  was 
consumed  in  preparation.  On 
$  the  13th   and   14th  the  -army 

burgoyne.  crossed  by  the  bridge  and  a  ford 

below  the  Battenkill. 

Just  as  Burgoyne  moved,  Gen.  Lincoln,  then  in  Vermont, 
sent  Col.  Brown  with  2,000,  Thacher  says  500,  men  to  at- 
tack the  forts  on  Lake  Champlain  and  Lake  George.  He 
surprised  Fort  George,  captured  a  vessel  conveying  provision, 
captured  a  post  at  the  outlet  of  Lake  George,  destroyed  a 
large  number  of  boats  and  armed  vessels,  released  one  hun- 
dred Americans,  captured  289  prisoners  and  five  cannon, 
occupied  Mount  Hope  and  Mount  Defiance  with  the  old 
French  lines,  and   summoned   Ticonderoga  to   surrender. 


36 

The  commandant  refused  and  as  Col.  Brown's  artillery  was 
deficient,  he  rejoined  Gen.  Lincoln. 
Without   giving   attention   to   this 
raid  in   his   rear,  Burgoyne  pressed 
on  to  the  south.     On    the    15th   he 
moved   from  Saratoga,  but  was  de- 
tained  by   the  repairing  of  bridges 
which  Gen.  Schuyler  had  destroyed,  ^ 
and   it    was    the    18th    before    he 
reached  Wilbur's  Basin.    He  slowly 
dragged  his  great  train  of  artillery,      general  lincolx. 
including   two   heavy  24   pounders 

and  a  heavy  baggage  train.  His  movements  had  been 
watched  by  Lient.-Col.  Colburn  from  the  high  hills  east  of 
the  Hudson,  and  reported  to  Gen.  Gates.  By  the  15th  Gates 
was  fully  prepared.  The  right  wing  composed  of  the  brig- 
ades of  Glover,  Nixon  and  Patterson,  under  the  immediate 
command  of  Gates,  occupied  the  brow  of  the  hill  and  the 
lines  by  the  river.  The  left  wing,  commanded  by  Arnold, 
occupied  the  western  portion  of  the  line  about  three-fourths 
of  a  mile  from  the  river.  Arnold's  old  headquarters  now 
form  the  wing  of  the  Neilson  house. 

Arnold's  command  consisted  of  Gen.  Poor's  New  Hamp- 
shire brigade,  the  New  York  militia  regiments  of  Pierre 
Van  Courtland  and  Henry  Livingston,  two  Connecticut 
regiments  and  Major  Dearborn's  Massachusetts  infantry 
with  Morgan's  corps  of  riflemen.  The  centre  was  composed 
of  Massachusetts  and  New  York  Continental  troops,  and 
consisted  of  Learned's  brigade,  with  Bailey's,  Wesson's  and 
Jackson's  regiments  of  Massachusetts,  and  James  Living- 
ston's of  New  York.  On  the  17th,  Arnold,  with  1,500  men, 
was  ordered  forward  to  harrass  Burgoyne's  advance.  On 
account  of  the  impracticable  ground  on  the  wooded  river 
hills,  he  could  not  well  attack  in  flank  and  would  not  attack 
so  powerful  a  force  in  front,  and  retired  after  a  skirmish 
having  captured  a  number  of  prisoners.  About  this  time 
some  of  the  New  Hampshire  militia  were  inclined 
to  insubordination,  and  had  determined  to  return  home. 
Gates  succeeded  in   holding  them  by  offering  a  bounty  of 


37 

$10  each,  until  the  arrival  of  Gen.  Stark,  who  had  been  left 
behind  on  account  of  illness. 


GEN.  JOHN  STARK. 

Burgoyne  on  examining  the  ground  determined  to  march 
around  the  left  wing  of  the  Americans,  while  a  feint  was 
made  in  the  direction  of  the  American  works  on  the  flat. 
This  plan  well-nigh  succeeded,  and  would  have  been  fully 
accomplished  had  it  not  been  for  Arnold,  who  by  great  ex- 
ertion, persuaded  the  timid  and  indolent  Gates  to  permit 
an  attack  on  the  British  flanking  force  before  it  should  be- 
come dangerous  to  the  American  position,  which  had  no 
protection  but  the  woods  on  the  left. 

Burgoyne  fortified  his  camp  at  Wilbur's  Basin  by  re- 
doubts on  the  river  hills  and  entrenchments  extending 
across  the  river  flat.  Frazer  was  posted  on  the  plateau 
back  of  the  second  hill  north  of  the  Basin,  where  what  is 
known  as  "the  great  redoubt"  was  situated,  (see  map.) 

Burgoyne  formed  his  forces  in  three  columns.  The  right, 
composed  of  British  grenadiers,  British  light  infantry,  the 
24th  Brunswick  grenadiers,  and  a  battalion  with  eight  six- 
pounders  under  Lieut.  Colonel  Breyman,  was  led  by  the 
gallant  General  Simon  Frazer,  his  front  and  flanks  being 
covered  by  Indians,  Canadians  and  Tories.  Burgoyne  was 
with  the  centre  column,  consisting  of  the  9th,  20th,  21st, 
and  62nd  regiments  with  six  six-pounders,  led  by  Brigadier 
General  Hamilton.     The  left  wing,  commanded  by  Generals 


38 

Phillips  and  Riedesel,  was  principally  composed  of  Germans, 
and  the  heavy  artillery,  with  a  force  of  Canadians  and  In- 
dians in  advance.  Frazer  took  a  circuitous  route  along  a 
new  road  to  its  intersection  with  tne  road  leading  north- 
west from  Bern  is  Heights  (Fort  Neilson  of  the  map),  thence 


MAJOR  GEN".  HORATIO  GATES. 

he  proceeded  south  toward  the  American  left  to  some  high 
ground  at  the  head  of  the  middle  ravine,  about  one  hundred 
and  fifty  rods  west  of  Freeman's  cottage.  Burgoyne  followed 
the  stream  now  forming  Wilbur's  Basin  for  a  half  mile  and 
then  moved  to  the  southwest  to  a  point  a  little  south  of 
Freeman's  cottage  near  the  middle  ravine.  Phillips  and 
Kiedesel  moved  down  the  river  road.  At  eleven  o'clock 
Burgoyne  fired  a  signal  gun  notifying  the  left  wing  that  he 
was  in  position.  The  British  advance  then  moved  forward. 
On  the  flats  the  Canadians  and  Indians  marched  through 
the  woods  to  the  attack  but  were  scattered  with  considerable 


30 

loss  by  the  American  pickets.  The  movement  on  the  flats 
was  but  a  feint  to  distract  Gates,  and  it  succeeded  ;  for  he 
refused  to  withdraw  troops  from  that  quarter  after  Eiedesel 
had  marched  away  to  reinforce  Burgoyne.  From  the  begin- 
ning Gates  was  in  his  quarters  and  did  not  understand  the 
battle.  It  is  even  asserted,  and  recorded  by  Lossing,  that 
he  was  not  in  condition  to  understand  it  on  account  of  in- 
toxication. Burgoyne  and  Earl  Balcarras,  it  is  also  asserted, 
drank  wine  to  a  late  hour  the  night  before  the  19th,  but 
were  on  the  field,  and  handled  the  British  with  great  skill. 
If  Gates  was  indolent  and  timid,  Arnold  was  alert.  When 
the  Canadians  and  Indians  began  to  swarm  in  the  woods  in 
his  front  and  on  his  left,  he  knew  that  the  enemy  meant  to 
Hank  him,  and  that  the  battle  must  be  fought  in  the  woods 
and  on  the  hills,  instead  of  behind  intrenchments,  as  Gates 
intended.  Arnold  implored  Gates  to  permit  a  movement  to 
thwart  the  enemy's  intentions. 

Finally  Gates  consented  to  detach  Col.  Daniel   Morgan, 
(afterward  a  general,)  with  his  riflemen,  and  allowed  Ar- 
nold to  support  him.     With  this  permission  Arnold  began 
the  battle  vigorously.     Morgan  about 
noon   attacked    the   Canadians   and 
Indians  advancing  in  front  of  Bur- 
goyne at  the  middle  ravine,  south  of 
Freeman's  cottage,  and  drove  them 
back.      Beinforced    by    the   British, 
the  Canadians  drove   Morgan  back, 
when  he  was  reinforced  by  Dearborn 
and    at  one   o'clock  the  battle  was 
renewed.      At     this     time     Arnold     gejt.  daniel  mor- 
with  his  command  attacked  Frazer's  gan\ 

right,  intending  to  turn  it,  but  not  succeeding  counter- 
marched and  attacked  Frazer's  left  to  cut  him  off  from  the 
center.  Frazer  in  turn  attacked  Arnold's  left.  The  fight- 
ing was  on  and  about  Freeman's  farm.  Arnold  was  gain- 
ing positive  advantage  when  troops  from  the  British 
center  fell  on  his  right  and  compelled  him  to  withdraw. 
Arnold  being  reinforced  rallied  to  the  attack,  again  causing 
the  British  line  to  waver ;  when  Gen.  Phillips  followed  by 


40 

Riedesel  and  his  Germans,  who  had  marched  up  from  the 
flats  through  the  thick  woods,  appeared.  Phillips,  in  ad- 
vance of  the  heavily  accoutered  Germans,  attacked,  but 
with  little  effect.  But  Riedesel,  moving  to  the  attack  on  a 
line  nearly  perpendicular  to  that  of  Arnold,  compelled  him 
to  give  way.  Riedesel  thus  saved  Burgoyne  from  disaster. 
For  a  while  the  conflict  ceased,  and  both  armies  rested. 
While  this  battle  was  raging  Gates  was  inside  the  intrench- 
ments,  stubbornly  refusing  further  to  reinforce  Arnold, 
although  with  reasonable  diligence  he  might  have  learned 
that  Riedesel  had  reinforced  Burgovne.  Bargoyne  re- 
newed the  battle  by  a  cannonade  and  bayonet  charge  across 
the  clearing  of  Freeman's  farm,  but  the  Americans  sent 
him  back  as  quickly  as  he  came,  following  his  retreat. 
At  this  time  Arnold  was  at  headquarters  vainly  asking  for 
reinforcements,  although  Neilson  says  Learned  joined 
him.  Arnold  returned  again  to  the  field  and,  encourag- 
ing his  men,  the  battle  raged  more  furiously  than  ever,  the 
opposing  lines  swaying  back  and  forth  across  the  clearing 
of  Freeman's  farm.  A  British  field  battery  of  four  guns 
was  repeatedly  taken  and  retaken,  but  finally  remained  with 
the  enemy.  The  American  fire  was  terribly  destructive. 
Night  put  an  end  to  the  conflict,  the  British  resting  upon 
the  field,  though  badly  crippled.  The  British  loss  ex- 
ceeded six  hundred.  The  Americans  lost  in  killed, 
wounded  and  missing  three  hundred  and  nineteen  men. 
Arnold  was  the  hero  of  the  day,  and  his  success  made  Gates 
envious.  Gates  refused  to  renew  the  engagement  next  day, 
when  requested  by  Arnold,  and  would  give  no  reason.  He 
finally  admitted  that  it  was  lack  of  ammunition.  This  was 
evidently  Gates's  neglect.  Gen.  Schuyler  then  sent  up  from 
Albany  a  supply  of  window  leads  for  bullets.  Arnold  was 
diligently  insulted  from  the  day  of  the  battle.  In  his  report 
Gates  did  not  mention  him,  but  said  the  battle  was  fought 
by  detachments  from  the  army;  and  Wilkinson,  Gates's  adju- 
tant insisted  that  the  return  of  Morgan's  rifle  corps  be  made 
to  him  although  it  was  in  Arnold's  division.  Arnold  and 
Gates  finally  came  to  an  open  rupture,  and  Gates  exercising 
his  arbitrary  powers  removed  him   from  command.     The 


41 

general  officers  prepared  an  address  asking  hirn  to  stay  with 
the  army  as  another  battle  was  imminent.  This  was  with- 
held, although  Arnold  was  apprised  of  it.  Gen.  Lincoln, 
who  had  arrived  with  2,000  men  on  the  29th  of  September, 
was  placed  in  command  of  the  right  wing. 

Burgoyne  withdrew  a  little  on  the  20th  and  intrenched 
himself,  his  lines  resembling  in  contonr  those  of  the  Ameri- 
cans (see  map).  Breyman,  with  his  Hessians,  held  a  flank 
redoubt  on  the  extreme  right,  the  Light  Infantry  under  Earl 
Balcarras,  and  Frazer's  command  occupied  the  intrench- 
ments  about  Freeman's  cottage,  with  Hamilton's  brigade  on 
the  left  extending  to  the  north  branch  ravine.  The  rest  of 
the  army,  including  Riedesel's  command,  was  on  the  river 
hills  and  the  flat  by  the  river. 

A  section  of  the  British  works  still  remains  in  a  good  state 
of  preservation  in  the  woods  on  Pine  Plains,  south-west  of 
the  present  residence  of  E.  K.  Wilbur,  on  the  road  running 
west  from  Wilbur's  Basin. 


U  v^    AST&FY    APPCAR    SEPTI9,I9?7± 


P0K1 

t 


GROUND    PLANE,  HITISH   WORKS   ON   PINE  PLAINS. 

The  ground  on  which  these  works  are  situated  is  owned 
by  Edward  and  William  Lerrington.  The  ground  of  the 
two  battles.  September  19  and  October  7,  is  now  owned  by 
John  Newland  of  Stillwater,  the  widow  of  Isaac  Freeman 
and  Asa  F.  Brightman.  Joseph  Rogers  owns  the  ground 
where  Frazer  fell,  and  Ebenezer  Leggett  owns  the  ground 
of  the  Hessian  flank  redoubt,  commanded  by  Breyman, 
where  Arnold  was  wounded.  William  Dennison  owns  the 
site  of  Gates's  headquarters. 

The  Americans  completed  and  strengthened  their  works, 
erecting  a  strong  redoubt  on  the  heights  a  few  rods  north  of 
the  present  site  of  Neilson's  house,  where  stood  a  log  barn 
which  was  converted  into  a  block  house  and  named  Fort 
Neilson.  The  lines  were  also  run  to  the  south  from  this 
point,  and  flank  defences  were  constructed. 
6 


42 

On  the  21st  Burgoyne  received  a  promise  of  assistance 
from  Sir  Henry  Clinton  at  New  York.  On  the  4th  of  Octo- 
ber Sir  Henry  and  General  Vaughan  moved  up  the  Hudson 
river.  On  the  6th  he  captured  Forts  Clinton  and  Mont- 
gomery. Fort  Montgomery  was  commanded  by  Governor 
Clinton,  and  the  other  post  by  his  brother,  Gen.  James  Clin- 
ton. The  British  ships  broke  the  chain  across  the  Hudson 
between  Fort  Montgomery  and  Anthony's  Nose  and  sailed 


SALLY   PORT   OF   BRITISH   WORKS   ON"   PINE   PLAINS   AS    IT 
APPEARS    NOW. 

up  the  river.  On  the  9th  Governor  Clinton  captured  a  mes- 
senger from  Fort  Montgomery  to  Burgoyne.  He  was  seen 
hastily  to  swallow  something,  and  was  given  a  dose  of  tartar 
emetic,  throwing  up  a  silver  bullet  containing  a  dispatch 
from  Fort  Montgomery,  saying  the  way  was  clear  to  reach 
Gates's  army.  Upon  the  13th  of  October  the  fleet  moved 
up  and  burned  Kingston.  Clinton  arrived  too  late  to  save 
the  town,  but  immediately  hung  the  spy  upon  an  apple  tree. 
Lossing  says  he  saw  the  bullet  a  few  years  ago  in  possession 
of  Charles  Clinton  a  grandson  of  General  James  Clinton. 
The  British  pushed  on  as  far  as  Livingston's  Manor,  but 
there  heard  of  Burgoyne's  defeat  on  the  7th  of  October  and 
returned  to  New  York, 


THE  SECOND  BATTLE  OF  BEMIS  HEIGHTS, 
OCTOBER  7,  1777. 


FTER  the  19th  of  September  militia  flocked  to  Gates's 
army  from  all  quarters,  and  at  the  close  of  the  month 
he  had  a  formidable  force.  Gates  moved  his  quarters 
from  Bemis's  to  the  left  of  the  line.  On  the  1st  of 
October  Burgoyne  put  his  army  on  short  allowance. 
On  the  west,  the  wings  of  the  two  armies  were 
within  cannon  shot.  On  the  fourth,  Burgoyne 
consulted  Riedesel,  Phillips  and  Fraser.  Burgoyne 
proposed  another  attempt  to  turn  the  American  left. 
Riedesel  advised  a  retreat  to  Fort  Edward.  Frazer  was 
willing  to  fight.  On  the  7th  of  October,  shirking  the  respon- 
sibility of  ordering  a  battle,  Burgoyne  ordered  a  reconnoi- 
sance  in  force.  This  resolution  to  fight,  after  the  experience 
of  the  19th  September,  and  when  hopelessly  outnumbered  is 
unaccountable,  except  on  the  theory  that  Burgoyne  was  too 
proud  to  retreat  or  had  lost  his  grip  as  a  cautious  general, 
through  indolence  and  excesses.  Whatever  happened  he 
was  certain  of  reproach  if  he  did  not  succeed,  so  he  fought. 
Burgoyne  with  1,500  men,  eight  cannon  and  two  howit- 
zers, marched  out  on  the  morning  of  the  7th  and  formed  on 
an  eminence  (indicated  on  the  map)  west  of  the  British 
right  wing.  Five  hundred  rangers  and  savages  were  sent  to 
make  a  circuit  to  the  rear  of  the  American  left  and  produce 
a  diversion.  They  drove  in  the  American  pickets  and 
advanced  toward  the  breastwork  south  of  Fort  Neilson,  but 
were  driven  back  by  a  sharp  fire.     Before  Burgoyne  had 


44 

formed  his  line  the  Americans  were  on  the  alert.  The 
American  left  was  composed  of  two  brigades  under  Generals 
Poor  and  Learned,  with  Morgan's  liifle  corps  and  New 
England  Militia.  Morgan,  with  about  fifteen  hundred  men, 
was  ordered  out  to  an  eminence  on  Bnrgoyne's  right,  while 
General  Poor's  brigade  and  a  pare  of  Learned's  moved  to 
attack  the  British  left  and  center.  Morgan  first  became 
engaged  with  the  Canadians  and  savages  whom  he  drove 
back  to  the  main  British  line.  On  the  left  of  the  British 
line,  which  had  moved  forward  to  a  wheat  field,  was  Major 
Ackland  with  the  artillery  under  Major  Williams.  The 
center  was  composed  of  Brnnswickers  under  Riedesel,  and 
British  under  Phillips.  The  light  infantry  under  Earl 
Balcarras  was  on  the  left.  In  advance  of  the  right  was 
Prazer  with  five  hundred  (N"eilson  says  a  thousand)  picked 
men.  At  half-past  two  o'clock  the  Americans  attacked  both 
flanks  of  the  British.  The  British  artillery  on  the  left 
fired  over  the  heads  of  the  Americans,  who  rapidly  advanced 
and  delivering  their  fire  opened  to  right  and  left,  sheltering 
themselves  by  the  woods  fronting  the  British  to  avoid  the 
sweep  of  the  artillery,  then  charged  to  the  very  mouths  of 
the  cannon.  Five  times  one  of  the  cannon  was  taken  and 
retaken,  finally  remaining  with  the  Americans,  the  British 
falling  back.  The  Americans  greatly  encouraged  pressed 
the  British  on  every  side.  Major  Ackland*  was  shot 
through  both  legs  and  made  a  prisoner,  and  Major  Williams 
was  captured.  On  the  British  right  Morgan  made  a  furious 
attack  and  drove  Frazer  back  to  the  main  line.  Morgan 
moved  quickly  to  the  left  and  again  attacked  the  British  right 
throwing  it  into  confusion.     While  changing  position  to 

*  Major  Ackland  was  carried  to  General  Poor's  quarters  (the  Neilson  House) 
vvhsra  his  wife,  Lady  Harriet  Ackland,  who  had  been  with  him  in  the  British  army 
since  1776,  joined  him  two  days  after  the  battle.  This  beautiful  and  accomplished 
lady,  with  a  letter  from  Burgoyne,  was  carried  in  an  open  bo  t  accompanied  by 
Chaplain  Brudenell  and  attendants,  from  Uurgoyje's  army,  north  of  Wilbur's  Basin 
down  the  river  during  a  drenching  rain  storm  and  landed  at  the  American  intr  nch- 
mentson  the  river  flat.  When  the  sentinel  hailed  them  Lady  Harriet  answered- 
She  was  then  conveyed  to  her  wounded  husband.  Major  Ackland  at  a  dinner 
party,  alter  his  return  to  Englan  I,  warmly  defended  American  c  mrage  against  the 
aspersions  of  Lieutenant  Lloyd.  A  duel  followed  in  which  Major  Ackland  was 
shot  dead.  Lady  Harriet  was  insane  for  two  years  on  account  of  his  death,  but  re- 
covered and  married  Chaplain  BrudenelL 


45 

meet  Morgan,  Major  Dearborn  attacked  the  British  in  front. 
The  British  right  then  gave  way,  but  was  formed  again  in 
the  rear  by  Earl  Balcarras  and  brought  into  action.  Arnold, 
though  deprived  of  command,  had  watched  the  battle,  and 
becoming  greatly  excited,  sprang  upon  his  horse,  and  with- 
out orders,  placed  himself  at  the  head  of  three  regiments  of 
Learned's  brigade,  and  led  them  against  the  enemy's  center. 
Tne  troops  were  inspired  by  the  presence  of  their  old  and 
trusted  commander,  and  made  such  a  charge  that  the 
British  center  was  broken,  giving  way  in  disorder.  When 
Gates  learned  that  Arnold  had  joined  the  battle  he  sent 
Major  Armstrong  to  order  him  back,  but  Armstrong  could 
not  follow  where  the  intrepid  commander  led  and  did  not 
come  up  with  him  until  he  was  wounded  in  carrying  Brey- 
man's  redoubt. 

Arnold  and  Morgan  were  now  the  leading  spirits,  and  in- 
spired by  them,  the  British  were  pressed  from  every  quarter. 
Frazer,  the  bravest  and  best  of  Burgoyne's  officers,  was 
making  every  effort  to  rally  the  troops  and  hold  the  line.  He 
was  everywhere  conspicuous  on  an  iron  grey  charger.  He 
alone  could  bring  order  out  of  the  confusion,  and  wherever  he 
rode  the  troops  fought  with  new  spirit.  In  the  thickest  of 
the  fight  he  was  shot  by  one  of  Morgan's  riflemen,  (Timo- 
thy Murphy),  it  is  said,  at  the  suggestion  of  Arnold. 

A  panic  seized  the  British  and  Burgoyne  took  command 
in  person,  but  the  master  spirit  had  fallen,  and  the  Ameri- 
cans being  reinforced  by  three  thousand  men  under  General 
Ten  Broeck,  the  whole  British  line  gave  way  and  fell  back 
to  their  intrenchments,  leaving  their  cannon  behind,  most 
of  the  artillerymen  and  horses  being  slain.  The  Americans 
pursued;  and  led  by  Arnold  the  lines  commanded  by  Earl 
Balcarras  were  assaulted,  but  without  success.  Arnold  then 
assaulted  the  British,  between  Brey man's  redoubt  and 
Earl  Balcarras's  line,  defended  by  Canadians  and  Tories. 
Here  at  length  the  British  gave  way.  Arnold  then 
ordered  a  general  assault  while  he  with  the  regiment  of 
Brooks  assaulted  the  German  flank  redoubt  commanded  by 


46 


Breyman  and  already  engaged  by  Learned.     Arnold  rushed 

into  the  sally  port  with  his 
powerful  horse,  spreading 
terror  among  the  Germans 
who  had  seen  him  unharm- 
ed in  the  thickest  of  the 
fight.  The  Germans  fled 
giving  a  parting  volley 
which  shattered  Arnold's 
leg  that  had  been  wounded 
at  Quebec,  and  killing  his 
horse.  Breyman  was  mor- 
tally wounded  and  died  on 
the  field.  Major  Armstrong, 
with  a  message  from  Gates 
found  Arnold  wounded  in 
the  redoubt.  Arnold's  brav- 
ery had  again  crowned  the 
American  arms.  Night,  or 
the  loss  of  Arnold  in  the 
field,  put  an  end  to  the  con- 
flict. For  his  daring  and 
ability  to  skillfully  handle 
troops  in  action,  a  modern 
writer  has  named  Arnold 
the  Ney  or  Desaix  of  the 
American  revolution.  Arnold 
was  borne  to  camp  and 
thence  to  a  hospital  at  Albany,  where  he  was  under  the  care 
of  the  good  Dr.  Thacher.*     While  Arnold  was  winning  the 


*  Thacher  in  his  Military  Journal  says  that  Arnold  in  the  desperate  charge  at 
Breyman*s  redoubt,  "had  so  little  control  of  his  mind,  that  while  brandishing  his 
sword  in  animating  the  officers  and  soldiers,  he  struck  Captain  Pettingill  and  Cap- 
tain Brown,  and  wounded  one  of  them  on  the  head  without  assigning  any  cause. 
These  officers  the  next  day  requested  Colonel  Brooks  to  accompany  them  to  Arnold's 
quarters  to  demand  an  explanation.  He  disavowed  any  recollection  of  the  fact, 
and  denied  that  he  had  struct  an  officer  ;  but  when  convinced  of  it,  readily  offered 
the  required  apology.''  Dr.  Thacher  also  wrote  in  his  Military  Journal  on  the  12th 
of  i  ctober :  "  The  last  night  I  watched  with  the  celebrated  General  Arnold,  whose 
legs  was  badly  fractured  by  a  musket  ball  while  in  an  engagement  with  the  ene- 
my on  the  7th  iust.  He  is  very  peevish,  and  impatient  under  his  misfortunes  and 
required  all  my  attention  during  the  night.'1 


47 

battle,  Gates  (according  to  Wilkinson,  his  adjutant),  was  in 
his  camp  discussing  the  merits  of  the  struggle  with  Sir 
Francis  Clarke,  Burgoyne's  aid,  who,  wounded  and  a  prison- 
er, afterward  died.  Gates  in  his  report,  which  he  insulting- 
ly sent  to  congress  instead  of  Washington,  barely  mentioned 
Arnold  and  Morgan. 

About  midnight  General  Lincoln's  division,  which  had 
remained  in  camp,  marched  out  to  the  relief  of  those  upon 
the  field.  The  American  loss  in  killed,  wounded  and  miss- 
ing did  not  exceed  one  hundred  and  fifty,  and  Arnold  was 
about  the  only  officer  wounded.  The  British  lost  seven 
hundred.  The  field  of  Freeman's  farm  where  the  most 
desperate  fighting  occurred  and  where  the  British  dead  were 
hastily  buried,  has  been  prolific  in  interesting  relics.  Elisha 
Freeman,  whose  grandfather  owned  the  farm,  and  was  an 
American  scout,  has  a  large  collection. 


RELICS  FROM  FREEMAN'S  FARM.* 

In  1823,  Ebenezer  Leggett  came  from  Westchester  county 
to  the  old  Freeman  farm.  At  that  time  the  British  re- 
doubts were  well  defined.  Mr.  Leggett  has  plowed  up  great 
numbers  of  skeletons,  rifle  and  cannon  balls,  and  twenty  or 
thirty  years  ago  plowed  up  the  well-preserved  skeleton  of  an 
officer  wrapped  in  a  blanket.  A  part  of  the  red  uniform 
was  entire,  the  color  being  unchanged.  He  still  exhibits  it 
to  curious  visitors.  He  also  has  well-preserved  skulls. 
When  Mr.  Leggett  moved  and  repaired  a  barn  on  the  Free- 
man farm,  about  1846,  he  found  quite  a  large  sum  of  money. 
British  gold  and  silver,  guineas  ^nd  half-joes.  It  was  scat- 
tered over  a  space  of  about  forty  square  feet  near  where  a  log 

*  This  group  consists  of  a  cartridge  box,  bayonet,  silver  knife,  tomahawk,  a  large 
button,  from  the  uniform  of  Colonel  Peter  Gansevoort  (presented  to  Mr.  Freeman  by 
Gansevoorfa  descendants),  and  a  small  military  button  worn  by  a  member  of  the 
24th  British  regiment. 


48 

house  stood  in  the  time  of  the  revolution.  The  su  m  is 
stated  by  Mr.  Leggett  at  between  eighty  and  ninety  dollars. 
It  is  reported,  however,  in  the  neighborhood  that  the  sum 
made  a  good  fortune. 

Breyman's  redoubt  captured  by  Arnold  was  the  key  to 
the  British  position,  and  on  the  night  of  the  7th,  Burgoyne 
moved  his  artillery  and  stores  to  a  point  a  mile  north  of  his 
first  position  at  Wilbur's  Basiu,  still  holding  the  redoubts 
on  the  river  hills  north  of  the  Basin. 

The  gallant  Frazer  was  conveyed  to  the  house  of  John 
Taylor  near  Wilbur's  Basin  where  he  expired  on  the  morn- 
ing of  October  8th.  The  house  was  standing  until  1846. 
The  Baroness  Eiedesel,  who  occupied  the  house  on  the  day 
of  the  battle  writes :  "About  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  in- 
stead of  the  guests,  which  I  expected,  General  Frazer  was 
brought  on  a  litter,  mortally  wounded.  *  *  *  General 
Frazer  said  to  the  surgeon,  *  Tell  me  if  my  wound  is  mor- 
tal ;  do  not  flatter  me.'  The  ball  had  passed  through  his 
body.  *  *  He  was  asked  if  he  had  any  request  to  make, 
to  which  he  replied  that  if  General  Burgoyne  would  permit 
it,  he  should  like  to  be  buried  at  six  o'clock  in  the  evening, 
on  the  top  of  a  mountain,  in  a  redoubt  which  had  been  built 
there.     *     *     * 

I  could  not  sleep  as  I  had  General  Frazer  and  all  the 
other  wounded  gentlemen  in  my  room.  About  three  o'clock 
in  the  morning  I  was  told  he  could  not  hold  out  much 
longer  ;  I  had  desired  to  be  informed  of  the  near  approach 
of  this  sad  crisis,  and  I  then  wrapped  up  my  children  in 
their  clothes,  and  went  with  them  into  the  room  below. 
About  eight  o'clock  in  the  morning  he  died.  After  he  was 
laid  out,  and  his  corpse  wrapped  up  in  a  sheet,  we  came 
again  into  the  room,  and  had  this  sorrowful  sight  before  us 
the  whole  day. 

*  *  We  knew  that  General  Burgoyne  would  not  refuse 
the  last  request  of  General  Frazer,  though  by  his  acceding 
to  it,  an  unnecessary  delay  was  occasioned,  by  which  the  in- 
convenience of  the  army  was  much  increased.  At  six  o'clock 
the  corpse  was  brought  out,  and  we  saw  all  the  generals  at- 
tend it  to  the  mountain.     The  chaplain,  Mr.  Brudenell,  per- 


49 

formed  the  funeral  service,  rendered  unusually  solemn  and 
awful  from  its  being  accompanied  by  constant  peals  from 
the  enemy's  artillery.  Many  cannon  balls  flew  close  by  me, 
but  I  had  my  eyes  directed  toward  the  mountain  where  my 
husband  was  standing  amid  the  fire  of  the  enemy," 


SITE  OF  THE  GREAT  REDOUBT  WHERE   FRAZER   WAS   BURIED. 


The  mountain  with  the  redoubt  upon  it,  of  which  the 
Baroness  speaks,  is  what  is  known  as  the  "great  redoubt" 
and  is  the  second  spur  of  the  river  hills  north  of  Wilbur's 
Basin.  It  now  shows  no  vestiges  of  a  redoubt,  the  plow 
having  done  its  work. 

Two  lonely  pines  guard  the  resting  place  of  the  gallant 
officer  who  fought  for  a  coronet  and  found  his  grave  there. 
Much  interest  attaches  to  this  hill.  The  American  cannon 
which  fired  upon  the  burial  party  were  posted  on  the  plain 
southwest  of  the  redoubt,  the  Americans  having  advanced 
and  occupied  the  British  intrenchments  and  pushed  parties 
forward  to  harrass  Burgoyne's  flank.  It  is  said  the  Ameri- 
cans fired  minute  guns  when  they  ascertained  it  was  a  burial 
party. 

The  burial  hill  is  a  conspicuous  landmark.  Mrs. 
Catharine  Barker,  a  daughter  of  Fones  Wilbur,  from  whom 
Wilbur's  Basin  was  named,  and  grand-daughter  of  John  Mc- 
Carthy, who  first  bought  the  land  about  the  Basin,  200 
7 


50 


acres,  from  the  Schuyler  patent,  relates  that  within  her  rec- 
ollection, (she  is  now  aged  82),  the  burial  hill  was  covered 
with  excavations  made  by  parties  searching  for  Frazer's  re- 
mains or  for  money.  To  her  knowledge,  and  she  is  a  very 
^intelligent  and  active  lady,  no  traces  of  Frazer's  remains 
were  ever  discovered.  She  has  come  to  question  the  fact 
of  his  burial  there,  and  is  inclined  to  believe  that  it  is  not 
known  where  Frazer  was  buried.  She  is  quite  certain  that 
his   remains    have     never   been   removed,  although    some 

English  gentlemen  visited 
the  region  a  long  time  ago 
to  ascertain  his  burial  place. 
Benjamin  Silliman,  who 
visited  the  spot  in  1797,  and 
again  in  1819,  is  quite  cer- 
tain that  Frazer's  remains 
were  removed.  lie  wrrites 
in  his  "  Tour,"  descriptive  of 
a  journey  made  in  the  autumn 
of  1819:  "It  has  been  dis- 
puted which  is  the  redoubt  in 
question,  [where  Gen.  Frazer 
was  buried],  but  our  guide, 
[Ezra  Buel,  called  Major 
Buel,  at  the  time  of  Silliman's 
visit  seventy-five  years  old,  was  in  the  battle  as  a  guide 
and,  according  to  Mrs.  Barker,  claimed  to  be  one  of  the 
sharpshooters  who  climbed  trees  to  pick  off  British  officers], 
stated  to  us  that,  within  his  knowledge,  a  British  sergeant, 
three  or  four  years  after  the  surrender  of  Burgoyne's  army, 
came  and  pointed  out  the  grave.  We  went  to  the  spot ;  it 
is  within  the  redoubt,  on  the  top  of  the  hill  nearest  to  the 
house  where  the  general  died,  and  corresponds  with  the  plate 
in  Anbury's  travels,  taken  from  an  original  drawing,  made 
by  Sir  Francis  Clarke,  aid  to  General  Burgoyne,  and  with 
the  statement  of  the  general  in  his  defence,  as  well  as  with 
the  account  of  Madam  Eiedesel.  *  *  The  place  of  the  in- 
terment was  formerly  designated  by  a  little  fence  surround- 
ing the  grave.    I  was  here  in   1797,  twenty-two  years  ago  ; 


CATHARINE    BARKER. 


51 

the  grave  was  then  distinctly  visible,  but  the  remains  have 
been  since  dug  up  by  some  English  gentlemen  and  carried 
to  England." 

Silliman  gives  no  authority  for  this  statement,  but  makes 
it  as  though  he  were  positive.  It  is  probable  that  he  was  mis- 
informed.    There  is  a  tradition   at  Wilbur's  Basin  that  the 


GENERAL   SIMON"   FRAZER. 

remains  were  removed,  but  it  can  be  traced  to  no  reliable 
source,  and  there  is  no  certain  knowledge  of  it.  It  would 
be  well  worth  while  to  make  an  effort  to  ascertain  the  truth 
by  consulting  English  authorities.  If  his  remains  still  rest 
on  the  little  hill,  it  would  be  appropriate  to  erect  a  simple 
monument  to  his  memory. 

After  the  burial  of  Frazer,  on  the  night  of  the  8th,  Bur- 
goyne  retreated  without  his  sick  and  wounded,  in  a  heavy 
rain,  reaching  Saratoga  on  the  evening  of  the  9th.  Twelve 
hours  were  wasted,  near  Wilbur's  Basin,  in  paying  funeral 
honors  to  Gen.  Frazer,  according  to  his  request,  before  the  re- 
treat was  commenced.  Burgoyne  has  been  greatly  blamed  for 
this  delay.  The  Americans  were  enabled  to  take  up  strong 
positions  on  Pins  Plains,  although   they  did  not  show  that 


52 


THE  BUKIAL  OF  FRAZER. 


energy  in  pursuit  which  would  have  compelled   a  surrender 
then  and  there.     The  timid  Gates  was  always  a  mile  or  two 

behind  the  army,  and  did 
not  follow  up  his  successes. 
Burgoyne  could  have 
"been  shut  in  between  the 
hills  and  river  and  com- 
pelled to  capitulate.  He 
undoubtedly  desired  it, 
and  waited  for  the  inevit- 
able, but  was  compelled 
to  march  slowly  off,  with 
a  show  of  escaping.  He 
knew  what  a  good  general 
with  Gates's  force  would 
do,  and  expected  it  would 
be  done,  but  Gates  disappointed  his  enemy.  Burgoyne 
could  not  very  well  surrender,  unless  he  were  asked.  Frazer 
knew,  before  he  died  that  surrender  Avas  inevitable.  So 
good  a  soldier  as  Frazer,  even  in  the  hour  of  death,  would 
never  have  asked  delay  for  his  burial  had  he  not  been  convinc- 
ed that  capitulation  was  the  only  alternative.  It  was  related 
by  Samuel  Woodruff  of  Connecticut,  a  volunteer  in  the  Amer- 
ican army,  that  Frazer  on  his  death  bed  advised  Burgoyne 
to  propose  terms  of  capitulation  to  Gates  and  prevent  fur- 
ther bloodshed  ;  because  the  situation  of  his  army  was  now 
hopeless ;  it  could  neither  advance  nor  retreat.  The 
army  was  but  a  handful.  The  Canadians  and  Tories,  whom 
Burgoyne  had  pushed  to  the  front  to  receive  the  first  deadly 
fire  of  the  Americans  and  to  save  the  regulars,  in  both  bat- 
tles, had  deserted  or  been  killed.  The  Indians,  after  work- 
ing untold  mischief,  had  fled.  Silently,  on  the  night  of 
the  8th  the  little  band,  only  about  3,500  strong,  officers  and 
men,  retreated  from  their  position  at  Wilbur's  Basin.  The 
camp  fires  were  kept  brightly  burning  and  were  piled  with 
fagots  as  the  army  marched  away.  So  silent  was  the  march 
in  the  drenching  rain,  that  the  Baroness  Riedesel  kept  a 
handkerchief  over  the  mouth  of  her  little  daughter  Fred- 
erika,   lest  her  crying   might  reveal   the  retreat    to    the 


53 

Americans.  The  army  halted  for  rest  at  Do-ve-gat  and 
reached  Saratoga  on  the  evening  of  the  9th.  The  army  did 
not  cross  the  Fish  creek,  and  rested,  wet,  cold  and  discour- 
aged, though  much  preferring  to  retreat.  While  the  baron- 
ess was  sitting  by  a  great  fire  trying  to  dry  her  drenched 
clothing,  General  Phillips,  who  was  an  old  friend  of  her 
husband,  having  served  with  him  in  the  seven  years  war, 
came  up.  The  baroness  writes  in  her  memoirs:  "I  asked 
General  Phillips  why  he  did  not  continue  our  retreat  while 
there  was  yet  time,  as  my  husband  had  pledged  himself  to 
cover  it  and  bring  the   army  through  ?     *  Poor  woman,'  an- 


GEN.  WILLIAM  PHILLIPS* 

swered  he,  '  I  am  amazed  at  you  !  Completely  wet  through, 
have  you  still  the  courage  to  wish  to  go  farther  in  this 
weather!     Would   that  you   were  only  our  commanding 


*This  picture  of  General  Phillips  is  taken  from  Graham's  painting  of  Prazer's 
burial.  His  eyes  arc  cast  down,  gazing  sorrowfully  upon  the  grave  of  his  gallant 
comrade  in  arms. 


54 

general !  He  halts  because  he  is  tired,  and  intends  to  spend 
the  night  here  and  give  us  a  supper/  In  this  latter  achieve- 
ment, especially,  Burgoyne,  was  very  fond  of  indulging. 
He  spent  half   the   nights   in   singing   and   drinking,  and 


THE   BAROKESS   RIEDESEL. 


amusing  himself  with  the  wife  of  a  commissary,  who  was 
his  mistress,  and  who  as  well  as  he  loved  champagne."* 
Burgoyne  was  completely  discouraged,  and  was  seeking 
ignoble  relief  from  the  cares  of  a  responsible  general.  The 
army  crossed  the  Fish  creek  on  the  10th  and  took  up  posi- 
tions for  defense.    On   the  8th   detachments  of  the  army 


*"  While  the  array  were  suffering  from  cold  and  hunger,  and  everyone  was  looking 
forward  to  the  immediate  future  with  apprehension,  Schuyler's  house  was  illumi- 
nated and  rung  with  singing,  laughter,  and  the  jingling  of  glasses.  There 
Burgoyne  was  sitting,  with  some  merry  companions,  at  a  dainty  supper,  while  the 
champagne  was  flowing.  Near  him  sat  the  beautiful  wife  of  an  English  commis- 
sary, his  mistress.  Great  as  the  calamity  was,  the  frivolous  general  still  kept  up 
his  orgies.  Some  were  of  opinion  that  he  had  made  that  inexcusable  stand 
merely  for  fie  sate  of  passing  a  merry  night.  Riedesel  thought  it  incumbent  on 
him  to  remind  Burgoyne  of  the  danger  of  the  delay,  but  the  latter  returned  all  sorts 
of  evasive  answers."—  German  Auxiliaries  in  America. 


55 

under  Gates  had  pushed  forward.  General  Fellows,  on  the 
evening  of  the  8th,  erected  a  battery  on  the  east  bank  of 
the  Hudson,  south  of  the  Battenkill,  which  swept  the 
British  camp  on  the  heights  of  Saratoga.  A  detatchment 
of  two  hundred  men  under  Col.  Cochran  was  pushed  for- 
ward to  occupy  Fort  Edward.  The  heights  of  Saratoga 
were  occupied  by  the  Americans  when  Burgoyne  arrived, 
but  they  fell  back. 

On  the  10th  the  Americans  were  so  well  posted  on 
the  opposite  side  of  the  river  that  the  British  camp  was 
under  their  fire,   and   the  Baron   Eiedesel   told  his  wife  to 


THE   RIEDESEL   HOUSE. 

take  refuge  in  a  liDuse  a  little  to  the  north  of  the  position 
of  the  main  army  and  a  safer  place.  There  was  quite  a 
gathering  about  the  house  as  the  baroness  moved  there,  and 
the  Americans  deeming  it  the  quarters  of  officers,  trained 
their  guns  upon  it  and  the  whole  party  was  compelled  to 
take  refuge  in  the  cellar.  The  house  is  still  standing.  The 
baroness*  in  her  memoirs  best  describes  the  terrible  suffer- 
ings of  herself  and  the  army  up  to  the  time  of  surrender. 
After  the  knot  of  soldiers  and  officers  had  disappeared,  the 
cannonade  ceased.     The  baroness  writes: 

"  After  they  had  all  gone  out  and  left  me  alone,  I  for  the 
first  time  surveyed  our  place  of  refuge.  It  consisted  of 
three  beautiful  cellars,  splendidly  arched.  I  proposed  that 
the  most  dangerously  wounded  of  the  officers  should  be 
brought  into  one  of  them  ;  that  the  women  should  remain 
in  another ;  and  that   all  the  rest  should  stay  in  the  third, 


56 

which  was  nearest  the  entrance.  I  had  just  given  the 
cellars  a  good  sweeping,  and  had  fumigated  them  by  sprink- 
ling vinegar  on  burning  coals,  and  each  one  had  found  his 
place  prepared  for  him,  when  a  fresh  and  terrible  cannonade 
threw  us  all  once  more  into  alarm.  Many  persons  who  had 
no  right  to  come,  threw  themselves  against  the  door.  My 
children  were  already  under  the  cellar  steps,  and  we  would 
all  have  been  crushed,  if  God  had  not  given  me  strength  to 
place  myself  before  the  door,  and  with  extended  arms  pre- 
vent all  from  coming  in.  Eleven  cannon  balls  went  through 
the  house,  and  we  could  plainly  hear  them  rolling  over  our 
heads.  One  poor  soldier,  whose  leg  they  were  about  to 
amputate,  having  been  laid  upon  a  table  for  this  purpose, 
had  the  other  leg  taken  oif  by  another  cannon  ball,  in  the 
very  middle  of  the  operation.  [This  man  was  a  British 
surgeon  by  the  name  of  Jones.]  His  comrades  all  ran  off, 
and  when  they  came  back  they  found  him  in  one  corner  of 
the  room,  where  he  had  rolled  in  his  anguish,  scarcely 
breathing.  *  *  *  Often  my  husband  wished 
to  withdraw  me  from  danger  by  sending  me  to  the  Ameri- 
cans; but  I  remonstrated  with  him.  *  *  *  * 
Our  cook  saw  to  our  meals,  but  we  were  in  want  of  water; 
and  in  order   to  quench  thirst  I  was  often  obliged  to  drink 


■  *The  portrait  of  Madame  Riedesel  which  we  present  is  from  a  picture  by  the 
celebrated  German  artist,  Tich'jein,  in  1762.  It  represents  her  at  the  age  of  six- 
teen. The  picture  was  made  with  other  ladies  of  her  acquaintance,  represent- 
ing the  four  seasons,  just  before  her  marriage.  Madame  Riedesel,  then  Fred- 
erika  Von  Massow,  represented  Spring.  One  of  her  daughters  was  named 
America,  in  remembrance  of  her  mother's  experience  in  this  country,  Frederika 
another  daughter,  who,  a  mere  child,  passed  through  the  Burgoyne  campaign  with 
her  mother,  became  one  of  the  most  distinguished  women  of  her  day,  being  a 
friend  of  Humboldt  and  Baron  Stein.  On  the  retreat,  alter  the  burial  of  General 
Frazer,  little  Frederika  was  so  badly  frightened  that  her  mother  held  a  handker- 
chief over  her  mouth  to  prevent  her  cries  reaching  the  Americans,  and  disclosing 
the  movement.  The  children  who  accompanied  this  noble  baroness  on  her  journey 
to  America  were  Gustava,  aged  four;  Frederika,  aged  two,  and  Caroline  ten 
months  old,  whom  the  baroness  nursed  herself.  The  baroness  was  one  of  the 
noblest  of  wives  and  bravest  of  Christians.  While  on  board  ship,  coming  to 
America  with  her  three  little  children,  in  the  spring  of  1777,  she  wrote  in  her  diary  : 
*«  I  know  not  whether  it  was  the  hope  of  so  soon  again  seeirjg  my  husband  that 
gave  me  good  spirits,  but  I  found  the  sea  not  so  dreadful  as  many  had  painted  it 
to  me.  I  was  conscious  of  fulfilling  my  duty,  and  was  calm  because  I  trusted  in 
God  that  he  would  bring  me  safely  to  my  dear  husband.1'  The  general  wrote  to 
his  wife  from  Chambly,  closing  with :  "  Farewell,  and  do  not  be  uneasy.  God 
will  be  your  and  my  protector  in  every  event  that  may  befall  us." 


57 


wine,  and  give  it  also  to  my  children.  *  *  *  * 
As  the  great  scarcity  of  water  continued,  we  at  last  found 
a  soldier's  wife  [seventy-seven  wives  of  Brunswick  soldiers 
accompanied  them  to  America  and  remained  with  the 
armyj  who  had  courage  to  bring  water  from  the  river,  for 
no  one  else  would  undertake  it,  as  the  enemy  shot  at  the 
head  of  every  man  who  approached  the  river.  This  woman, 
however,  they  never  molested.  *  *  *  *  I 
endeavored  to  divert  my  mind  from  my  troubles  by  con- 
stantly busying  myself  with  the  wounded.  I  made  them 
tea  and  coffee,  and  received  in  return  a  thousand  benedic- 
tions. *  *  *  *  In  this  horrible  situation 
we  remained  six  days.  Finally,  they  spoke  of  capitulating, 
as  by  temporizing  for  so  long  a  time,  our  retreat  had  been 
cut  off.  A  cessation  of  hostilities  took  place,  and  my  hus- 
band, who  was  thoroughly  worn  out,  was  able  for  the  first 
time  in  a  long  while  to  lie  down  upon  a  bed." 

The  house  in  which  the  bar- 
oness took  refuge  is  now  owned 
by  Mrs.  Jane  M.  Marshall. 

While  the  events  just  nar- 
rated were  transpiring,  St. 
Leger  arrived  at  Ticonderoga 
by  way  of  Montreal,  to  aid 
Burgoyne.  He  was  too  late  to 
be  of  any  service.  He  held  the 
fortress  until  the  autumn  of 
1781,  since  which  time  it  has 
been  unoccupied. 

On  the  10th  Burgoyne  burned 
Gen.  Schuyler's  house  and  sent 
a  party  to  Fort  Edward  to  re- 
pair the  roads  and  ascertain 
if  retreat  were  practicable 
in  that  direction.  The  road 
builders  were  driven  in  by  the  Americans  who  swarmed 
everywhere,  and  the  garrison  of  200  at  Fort  Edward  made 
a  great  display  of  fires,  conveying  the  idea  that  it  was  held 
by  a  strong  force.      General  Gates,  who  was  a  mile  in  the 


COL.  BARRY  ST.  LEGER. 


58 

rear,  heard  that  Burgoyne  had  retreated  to  Fort  Edward,  and 
immediately  ordered   the  brigades   of  Generals  Nixon  and 
Glover,   and   Morgan's   corps   to   cross  Fish  creek  and  fall 
upon  Burgoyne.     The  latter,  more  wide-awake  than  Gates, 
prepared  a  trap  for  the  American  general.     Morgan  crossed 
On  the  11th,   under  cover  of   a  fog,   and  received  a  warm 
reception  from  the  British   pickets     He  then  believed  the 
rumor  of  a  retreat  was   false,  and  decided  to  give  the  infor- 
mation and  await  farther  orders.     He  met  Adjutant-General 
Wilkinson,  who  agreed  with  him.     In  the  meantime  Nixon 
had  crossed  the  creek  near  old  Fort  Hardy,  built  in  1755  by 
General  Lyman.  Glover  was  about  to  follow  when  a  deserter 
came  in,  who  said  the  British  army  was   in  force.     Morgan 
and  Nixon  were  in  a  perilous  situation,  and  the  former  was 
compelled  to  maintain  it  until  Gates,  who  was  in  the  rear, 
could  be  consulted.     Some  authorities   say  that  Nixon  re- 
treated without  orders  from  Gates,  just  in  time  to  save  his 
brigade   from  the   strongly  posted  batteries   of    Burgoyne, 
which    were  revealed   when  the   fog  lifted.     Morgan,  who 
crossed  farther  up  the  creek,  was  soon  supported  by  Learned 
and  Patterson.     When  their  danger  was  discovered  Learned 
and  Patterson  recrossed  Fish   creek,  but  Morgan  moved  to 
the  left   through  the   woods,  and  took   position  upon   the 
heights  on  the  flank   and    rear  of  Burgoyne.     Thus  by  the 
12th  Burgoyne's  position  was  completely  invested.     On  that 
day  a  council  of  officers  decided  to  retreat  by  night,  leaving 
the  artillery  and  baggage.     The  information  brought  in  by 
scouts  showed  that  this  course  was   impracticable.     On  the 
13th   a  council   of  all  the   officers   was   called,  but  while 
it  was  being  held  a  cannon  shot  passed  across  the  table  and 
disturbed   the   deliberations.     It   was   resolved   to   open    a 
treaty   for   surrender.     Lieutenant   Colonel   Kingston  pro- 
ceeded to  Gates's  headquarters  with  a  note  from  Burgoyne, 
proposing  a   cessation   of   hostilities   to   arrange   terms  of 
capitulation.     General  Gates  ordered  a  cessation  of  hostili- 
ties until  sunset,  and  sent  a  series  of  proposals  to  Burgoyne 
for  his  approval.     The  first  proposition  of  Gates  was  for  the 
British  to  ground  their  arms  in  their  camp,  but  Burgoyne 
proposed  to  fight  before  submitting  to  terms  so  humiliating. 


59 

Finally  it  was  agreed  that  the  British  should  march  out 
with  the  honors  of  war  and  pile  their  arms  at  the  word  of 
command.  On  the  lGth  the  terms*  were  agreed  upon  and 
hostilities  ceased.  On  the  17th  the  convention  was  signed 
and  the  British  marched  out  and  piled  their  arms  in  the 
meadows  bordering  the  river  near  old  Fort  Hardy.  Gen. 
Burgo)Tne  delivered  his  sword  to  Gates  in  the  American 
camp,  and  it  was  immediately  returned.  According  to 
Fonblanque,  the  number  killed  and  wounded  during  the 
campaign  was  1,3G6,  and  the  number  who  surrendered 
3,500,  officers  and  men.  Gates's  army,  at  this  time,  num- 
bered 17,000  effective  troops.  The  terms  of  surrender  were 
most  advantageous  to  the  British,  and  not  at  all  to  the 
credit  of  Gen.  Gates.  The  latter  was  frightened  with  a 
rumor  that  Clinton  was  coining  in  his  rear,  and  made  terms 
as  easy  as  possible,  without  delay,  although  he  could  have 
utterly  crushed  Burgoyne  in  a  day.  Burgoyne  accurately 
describes  the  causes  of  his  disaster  in  the  following,  written 
to  Phillipson  from  the  residence  of  Gen.  Schuyler  at 
Albany,  on  the  20th  of  October:  "  This  army  has  been  di- 
minished by  scandalous  desertions  in  the  collateral  parts,  by 
the  heavy  drain  of  the  garrism  at  Ticonderoga,  and  by 
great  loss  of  blood.  It  has  been  totally  unsupported  by  Sir 
William  Howe." 

Burgoyne  wrote  to  his  nieces  from  Albany  :  "  I  have  been 
with  my  army  within  the  jaws  of  famine ;  shot  through 
my  hat  and  waistcoat ;  my  nearest  friends  killed  around  me." 


*The  following  are  the  principal  articles  of  the  convention  : 

l* The  troops  under  Lieutenant  General  Burgoyne,  to  march  out  of  their  camp 
with  the  honors  of  war,  and  th^  artillery  of  intrenchments  to  the  verge  of  the  ri»  er 
where  the  old  fort  stood,  where  the  arms  and  artillery  are  to  he  left ;  the  arms  to  be 
piled  by  word  of  command  from  their  own  officers. 

A  free  passage  to  be  granted  to  the  army  under  Lieutenant  General  Burgoyne  to 
Great  Britain,  on  condition  of  not  serving  again  in  North  America  during  the  pres- 
ent contest  ■;  and  the  port  of  Boston  is  assigned  for  the  entry  of  transports  to 
receive  the  troops,  whenever  General  Howe  shall  so  order. 

All  officers  to  retain  their  carriages,  battle  horses  and  other  cattle,  and  no  bag- 
gage to  be  molested  or  searched;  Lieutenant  General  Burgoyne  giving  his  honor 
that  there  are  no  public  stores  secreted  therein.  Major  General  Gates  will,  of 
course,  take  the  necessary  measures  for  the  performance  of  this  article.  Should 
any  carriages  be  wanted  during  the  march,  for  the  transportation  of  officers'  bag- 
gage, they  are,  if  possible,  to  be  supplied." 

The  Canadians  were  to  be  sent  to  their  homes  on  parole. 


60 

The  Baron  Riedesel  and  his  wife  spent  three  days  with 
Gen.  Schuyler  at  Albany,  and  then  S2t  out  for  Boston.  The 
baron  concealed  the  colors  of  the  German  regiments  at 
Saratoga,  and  eventually  took  them  safely  to  Germany. 
Arrived  near  Boston,  Burgoyne's  army  was  quartered  at 
-Cambridge,  waiting  for  the  promised  transports  and  the  ful- 
fillment of  the  terms  of  capitulation.  That  fulfillment 
never  came.  The  timid  Gates  had  given  the  army  back  to 
England,  so  every  man  could  be  put  in  garrison,  and  the 
men  thus  relieved,  sent  to  fight  the  colonies.  Congress  did 
not  like  the  prospect,  and  never  ratified  the  convention 
signed  at  Saratoga.  Burgoyne  complained  that  the  prison- 
ers at  Cambridge  were  badly  treated  by  Healy,  who 
had  charge  of  them.  Healy  was  brought  to  court-martial  and 
Burgoyne  conducted  the  prosecution,  but  Healy  was 
acquitted.  In  Albany,  where  the  wounded  prisoners  were 
held,  Dr.  Hayes,  one  of  Burgoyne's  surgeons,  wrote  to  his 
commander :  "  On  the  31st  of  May,  an  order  was,  by  direc- 
tion of  the  commanding  officer,  (a  Gen.  Starke  of  noted  in- 
famy,) stuck  on  the  door  of  the  Dutch  church  at  Albany, 
in  these  words  :  '  All  British  officers  and  soldiers,  prisoners, 
who  are  seen  ten  rods  from  their  quarters,  shall  be  taken  up 
and  whipped  two  hundred  lashes,  on  their  naked  backs  ? 
without  the  benefit  of  court-martial."  This  order  was  prob- 
ably a  hoax,  as  it  was  never  read  to  the  troops.  The  troops 
quartered  at  Cambridge  were  marched  to  Virginia  in  No- 
vember, 1778,  and  reaching  Colle  and  Charlottesville  in 
February,  1779.  Many  deserted.  Most  of  the  prisoners  were 
not  released  until  the  close  of  the  war.  Burgoyne  went  to 
England  on  parole  in  April,  1778.  and  defended  himself  in 
Parliament. 

NOTES. 

Nearly  all  of  the  histories  state  that  Burgoyne  reached  Wilbur's  Basin 
before  the  battle  of  the  19th  of  September,  and  fortified  his  camp.  This 
is  a  mistake  which  the  writer  copied.  It  was  first  made  by  Wilkinson. 
Burgoyne  made  all  his  movements  on  the  19th  from  Sword's  house,  more 
than  a  mile  north  of  Wilbur's  Basin. 

On  page  five,  third  line,  read  "  May  26th,"  instead  of  "  6th." 

In  next  to  the  last  line  on  page  six  read  last  of  May  instead  of  "first 
of  May." 

On  34th  pige,  under  cut,  read :  "with  a  view  of  Willard's  mountain"  in- 
stead of  "Burgoyne's  camp." 


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